James Thomas Stanley

Left: Stanley, circa 1967 (7 years prior to disappearance);
Right: Age-progression of Stanley to age 52 (circa 2001)


Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

Missing Since: September 1974 from Ohio
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: March 30, 1949
Age: 25 years old
Height and Weight: 5'7 - 5'8, 140 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian male. Blond/light brown hair, blue eyes. Stanley has a fair complexion. He has a surgical scar on the left side of his body due to a hernia operation. Stanley's left arm was previously broken. He wore a partial upper denture plate at the time of his 1974 disappearance. Stanley's nicknames are Tommy and Tom.


Details of Disappearance

Stanley told his family members that he was in trouble and had to leave his home state of Ohio during September 1974. He did not specify what the problem was at the time, but Stanley claimed he could never return to Ohio and was going to travel to Florida. He has never been seen again.
Stanley's green 1969 Fiat with Ohio license plates numbered X1798H was discovered abandoned in the northbound lane of Interstate 95 in Kenly, North Carolina on September 23, 1974. All of Stanley's personal belongings were inside the vehicle, including his clothes, shoes, wallet and photo albums. The keys were still in the car's ignition at the time of discovery. There was no sign of Stanley at the scene. The law enforcement officer who found the vehicle stated that there was no evidence of foul play. He felt that the Fiat had been abandoned for at least 48 hours by the time it was towed to Holland's Garage in Kenly. The vehicle was found to have a broken radiator hose while at the shop.

Stanley's family never filed a missing person's report with authorities. His parents worried that they would cause him more problems if they reported his disappearance. Stanley was declared legally deceased in 1981, seven years after he initially vanished. There has not been any activity on his Social Security number since 1974. Stanley has relatives in Ohio and West Virginia.



Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
The Stanley Family
dadmissing@earthlink.net



Source Information
The Stanley Family
State to State Unsolved Crimes