In this week's edition of "The Missing," we revisit the sudden and mysterious disappearance of John James Morris, a 38-year-old resident of Dickerson, Maryland, who vanished in July 2007.
"I have been searching for my son since he disappeared after breaking up a 14-year relationship with his partner," John's mother, Madeline Morris, wrote in a recent e-mail. "After the break-up John moved back to his hometown in New Jersey, but after a brief stay he returned to Maryland to pick up his belongings. He has not been heard from since."
According to Madeline, John was last seen on the afternoon of July 30, 2007, in the driveway of his ex-boyfriend's residence on Whites Ferry Road in Dickerson, Maryland. On the day of his disappearance John had a brief telephone conversation with his mother, during which time he expressed his anger and dismay over the situation. Before hanging up, John told his mother he was waiting for someone to come pick him up. A neighbor later confirmed that John had been standing at the end of his ex-boyfriend's driveway. What happened next remains a mystery.
John usually spoke with his mother on a weekly basis; however, when several weeks went by with no contact Madeline became concerned and reported him missing on August 23, 2007. After receiving Madeline's report, the Montgomery County Police Department looked into the case and questioned John's friends and former neighbors.
According to police, John's boyfriend was out of town on the day John stopped to pick up his belongings. Oddly, John had left his pickup truck behind, although it remains unclear if someone picked him up or if he walked away from his ex-boyfriend's residence.
"At this point, there's definitely foul play or possibly suicide. He could be anywhere between here and New Jersey," Detective Roderick Stephens said in a January 10, 2008 interview with Fredericknewspost.com.
Police conducted a K9 search of the woods by John's former residence and conducted a thorough search of the house, but were unable to find any leads suggesting what might have happened to him. The case has slowly gone cold, leaving investigators stumped by his sudden and mysterious disappearance. In an attempt to get new leads, investigators recently added John's case to the National Crime Institute Computer (NCIC) system.
In the 267 days since he disappeared, John has not used his credit card or cell phone. He left all of his belongings behind, including his beloved dog, who is now in his parents' care. John, who suffers from ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), did not take his medication with him, adding further concern for his mother, who claims he has been known to self medicate with alcohol and illegal drugs.
"John is a loving and warm person," Madeline said. "Since he disappeared, it has consumed much of my time searching for him. I miss him so very much and I am so worried that he is unsafe or maybe worse."
John's family maintains two web sites devoted to the case at www.findjohnmorris.com and www.myspace.com/mjjm66. Madeline recently wrote a personal letter to John, which can be found at: www.findjohnmorris.com/uploads/DearJohn3.rtf.
John James Morris is described as 6' and 185 lbs., with grayish brown hair and light brown eyes. He has a large tattoo of a snake on his right forearm and a tattoo of a scorpion on his left shoulder. John is a talented artist and may be working as a landscaper or handyman. He also has previous experience working as a glazier, repairing broken car windows.
Anyone with information is asked to call the 5th District Investigative Section at 301-840-2347 or Det. Rod Stephens at 301-840-2650.
If you are a family member of a missing loved one and have a case you would like covered here, contact me via e-mail. If you are a reader who would like to help, please spread the word about this blog so others can find us. The more people who see these stories, the better the chances that someone might come forward with information.
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