Some go out to meet friends, but never arrive. Others step out their door for a walk and don't come back. In all the cases, what happened to them remains a mystery.'
While leads might be "cold," investigators pore through the case files over and over hoping to come up with some stone they haven't turned over.'
Sgt. David Ott, a Beaufort Police Department investigator, has been working on the case of John Dukes. '
The case is the only missing persons case the department has that is unsolved, said police Chief Jeff Dowling.'
"A cold case is one of the hardest cases a police officer has to work on," Ott said. "You run out of leads."'
John W. Dukes disappeared Dec. 15, 1994. He was 35 at the time.'
Dukes left his parents' Mossy Oaks residence that evening for a walk, but his family never saw him again. '
On July 11, 1995, a shrimper pulling in his nets found a tennis shoe with a sock-covered foot inside. An FBI report July 9, 1997, concluded there was a strong possibility it was Dukes' foot, but it wasn't definitive.'
"In every investigator's mind, he expects the worst and hopes for the best," Ott said. "I'd hope one day John Dukes comes walking through the door."'
However, the longer the person is missing the more likely police are to suspect the worst. '
Lt. Bob Bromage, an investigator for the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office who works on cold cases, said that's the case with Paul Baker. '
Baker's parents, James Baker and Lynda Solorzano, separated in the mid-1980s after James Baker allegedly had an affair with their baby sitter.'
James eventually was awarded full custody of their children, Paul and Nina Baker. He then married the baby sitter and in 1987 the family moved to Beaufort. '
James Baker's new wife, Susan, told authorities that she put Paul down for a nap inside their home March 5, 1987. She claimed Paul Baker had vanished by the time she returned to check on him. He had never been seen again. '
An extensive search of the Bakers' property produced little evidence as to Paul's whereabouts. State authorities removed Nina Baker from the family's home and learned that she suffered broken bones and had sores covering her body. '
Susan Baker was convicted of abusing the child and was sentenced to 10 years in prison for assault and battery. Her sentence was suspended due to time served. '
Susan and James Baker were extradited back to South Carolina from their Florida residence in 2000 in connection with Paul's disappearance. Investigators think Paul Baker might have been the victim of foul play, but his whereabouts remain unknown.'
"We think the child was murdered or died accidentally and the body was disposed of,"'
Bromage said. "We still have him listed as a missing person."'
However, Bromage doesn't mean investigators stop work on the case. He said until evidence is found to show otherwise, investigators can't assume someone is dead.'
"You always hold out hope that you'll find someone," Bromage said.'
Many investigations require local police officers to work with authorities in other areas as well as federal authorities, Bromage said. He said missing persons cases are similar to other types of cold cases because investigators have to re-interview witnesses.'
"Sometimes you find that witnesses might have changed allegiance over time or might be more willing to talk over time," Bromage said. "There are so many variables that play into it."'
A murder, but no body'
On Hilton Head Island, investigators have charged a man with murder, though they still haven't found a body.'
El Shawndrae Devon Jones was seen last with his friend, Toby Bing, on Feb. 18, 1999, on Wild Horse Road. Jones was visiting from Atlanta at the time. Bing received a call on his cell phone while away from his home during the day. The caller requested that Bing drive to Bluffton.'
Jones and Bing were driving Bing's white 1994 Toyota pickup. The truck was found abandoned in Savannah on Feb. 24, 1999, six days after he and Jones vanished. There was no sign of either man at the scene. '
Authorities discovered a large amount of blood at the Bluffton residence of Sean Rico Sullivan sometime afterward. Investigator's said DNA tests confirmed that the blood was Bing's because it matched blood from Bing's relatives. Sullivan was charged with his murder in April 1999. '
Sullivan was not charged in connection with Jones' case, although authorities believe he also was a victim of foul play.'
Investigators say that the amount of Bing's blood at Sullivan's house proved he could not have survived his wounds. Slugs and bullet holes also were discovered on the property.'
"We found what we think is a crime scene," Bromage said. '
Sullivan was freed on bail when he was arrested on drug charges in July 1999. '
Kenneth Campbell was charged as a material witness to Bing's presumed murder in August 1999. He was arrested after a seven-hour standoff with authorities outside of his home in Bluffton.'
Sullivan and two other convicted drug dealers were convicted of conspiracy earlier this year.'
Sullivan's trial for Bing's murder is pending, Bromage said. '
Bing's and Jones' remains have never been found.'
Three cases, no clues'
Bromage said there are three missing persons cases with the county where charges have not been made and no suspects have been arrested.'
Kaye F. Hamilton, who was 37 at the time of her disappearance, was seen last near her home in the Jenkins Road area off U.S. 17 near Gardens Corner. She has been missing since Nov. 9, 1994.'
The Beaufort County Sheriff's Office said Hamilton's vehicle was not missing and there were no signs of struggle at her home. Police conducted an extensive search of the area around her home.'
Irene Vlk was last seen on Hilton Head Island on Sept.12, 1991. She stopped at a church at Seaside Villas while some of its members were having dinner. Witnesses reported Vlk was crying and appeared terrified. She was barefoot and her feet were bleeding. Vlk requested a piece of cardboard and said that she wanted to create a sign and hitchhike off of the island. She was wearing a shirt and jeans at the time of her disappearance.'
Vlk has never been heard from again. She would be 48 now and her case remains unsolved. '
One of the oldest missing persons case is another on Hilton Head.'
Kristina Joanne Porco was last seen leaving her family's condo on Hilton Head Island on Nov. 29, 1986. '
She had an argument with her mother at the time, according to police. Porco called a friend and asked her to meet by the complex's pool. Her friend arrived shortly thereafter but only found Porco's red sweater by the pool area. She has never been seen again. '
Porco was last seen wearing an orange sweatshirt, jeans and white sneakers. Her savings account has not been used since her disappearance. Porco did not have any extra cash or belongings with her at the time she vanished. She would now be 32.'
Ott said getting on the case at the beginning is critical.'
"You need to try to get on leads while they're hot," Ott said. "I'd say the first few hours are the most important."'
While many missing persons cases end up with the person found without having suffered any harm, Ott said you can't assume that's always the case.'
"You have to treat it seriously," Ott said. "You have to investigate every case."'
With the recently publicized cases across the nation this summer, Beaufort County is developing an Amber Alert system, said Todd Ferguson, operations director for Beaufort County Emergency Management. The system is expected to help locate people closer to the time they are reported missing.'
"We're going to be getting letters out to the media in the next couple of weeks to get them on board," Ferguson said. "We've got portions of it in place right now."'
Ferguson said he's been working on it for the past month and expects to have it fully functioning in late October. He said while the system will be used to help locate children, it will also be used to locate people who might have disabilities.'
"We want to use it to find someone who might be a danger to themselves or others, regardless of their age," Ferguson said.