FL FL - Leslie Terrence Fistel, 16, Fort Lauderdale, 1 May 1981

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PayrollNerd said:
My gosh was his mother so angry or frustrated with him that she didn’t bother to report him gone? What about Dad, siblings, family, friends? Surely they loved him and cared, at least after he’d been missing for a bit? We all need a break from our teenagers at time but never reporting him? So sad for this child.
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This is why I believe foul play was involved. Why are they just now reporting him missing? His father was an attorney. Were people paid to shut up until the parents were gone? Who finally reported him missing??
 
kimbyQ said:
This is why I believe foul play was involved. Why are they just now reporting him missing? His father was an attorney. Were people paid to shut up until the parents were gone? Who finally reported him missing??
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We do not know the reasons for why he wasn’t reported missing until recently. In many cases from this era, even if a runaway report was made the case could’ve been purged from Florida’s Missing Children list once Leslie reached age 18. I dont really think they notify the families when they did this either so it’s quite possible Leslie’s parents were under the impression that their son’s name was at least still on police radar after all these years until they passed away.

They would also purge cases that didn’t have any obvious evidence of foul play or an inkling of suspicious circumstances.
 

Added Aug 7, 2024

Leslie Terrence Fistel​

  • fistel_leslie.jpg
  • fistel_leslie2.jpg
  • fistel_leslie_ap.jpg

Details of Disappearance​

Leslie was last seen in Dania Beach, Florida on May 1, 1981. He was in an argument with his mother and afterwards climbed out his bedroom window. He has never been heard from again. Few details are available in his case.
 
mlhenn said:

Added Aug 7, 2024

Leslie Terrence Fistel​

  • fistel_leslie.jpg
  • fistel_leslie2.jpg
  • fistel_leslie_ap.jpg

Details of Disappearance​

Leslie was last seen in Dania Beach, Florida on May 1, 1981. He was in an argument with his mother and afterwards climbed out his bedroom window. He has never been heard from again. Few details are available in his case.
Click to expand...
So now the argument happened in May instead of September, as NamUS still records.

NamUs says "Leslie was 16 years old at the time of his disappearance," but his birthday was on June 10, 1964 according to the CP. The only way this works is if he disappeared before his birthday, i.e. in May 1981—not September. But if this is true, where did September come from? And why was he not reported missing for 43 years?

This story just doesn't add up.
 
JSolt1210 said:
So now the argument happened in May instead of September, as NamUS still records.

NamUs says "Leslie was 16 years old at the time of his disappearance," but his birthday was on June 10, 1964 according to the CP. The only way this works is if he disappeared before his birthday, i.e. in May 1981—not September. But if this is true, where did September come from? And why was he not reported missing for 43 years?

This story just doesn't add up.
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It's my understanding the family tried for many years to report Leslie missing. Even going as far as hiring several PI's, with no luck. This was during a time law enforcement didn't take these types of matters seriously. All these years later, the family can only estimate the time of disappearance. Foul play was not suspected. It is possible Leslie assumed another name. There are no dental records available as his dentist long retired and his records have been destroyed.
 
Help find the missing said:
It's my understanding the family tried for many years to report Leslie missing. Even going as far as hiring several PI's, with no luck. This was during a time law enforcement didn't take these types of matters seriously. All these years later, the family can only estimate the time of disappearance. Foul play was not suspected. It is possible Leslie assumed another name. There are no dental records available as his dentist long retired and his records have been destroyed.
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I had a feeling this was how it went. I’m sad his family was one of many who were not taken seriously about their missing loved one.
 
As a reminder, this thread is entirely public, available to anyone on the web.
We do not know the circumstances if foul play was involved or if he ran away. We do not know what the family did/didn't do over the course of these last 40 years to find him. I guarantee they hope that he did run away and is living.

We here, more than anyone, should know a data system is only as good as what is put into it. Errors are made. Happens everyday. Websleuths, Namus and all other like-agencies are no different (LE, missing/Doe websites, etc.) And they also do not share all info publicly, even if they know. There are reasons behind it.

A runaway in Florida in early 81 was not an uncommon event and there are likely many more, probably thousands, that we have no knowledge of. Many, many of the missing get purged from data systems when they turn 18. The numbers of runaways LE deals with in FL is astounding. You all know that don't see every missing or Doe case on these youth. The NCMEC was not even formed until around 84 (as I recall). Resources were (and still are limited). In 84, he likely would not have even been accepted as a case due to his age and especially with no evidence of foul play.

Whether he ran away or foul play was involved, at the end of the day our mission is to find him. If this is something his family didn't want to do, they most definitely wouldn't now be putting his information in systems in effort to find him some 40 years later.

Wishing all of those searching for him some answers and peace <3
 
HopeRains said:
As a reminder, this thread is entirely public, available to anyone on the web.
We do not know the circumstances if foul play was involved or if he ran away. We do not know what the family did/didn't do over the course of these last 40 years to find him. I guarantee they hope that he did run away and is living.

We here, more than anyone, should know a data system is only as good as what is put into it. Errors are made. Happens everyday. Websleuths, Namus and all other like-agencies are no different (LE, missing/Doe websites, etc.) And they also do not share all info publicly, even if they know. There are reasons behind it.

A runaway in Florida in early 81 was not an uncommon event and there are likely many more, probably thousands, that we have no knowledge of. Many, many of the missing get purged from data systems when they turn 18. The numbers of runaways LE deals with in FL is astounding. You all know that don't see every missing or Doe case on these youth. The NCMEC was not even formed until around 84 (as I recall). Resources were (and still are limited). In 84, he likely would not have even been accepted as a case due to his age and especially with no evidence of foul play.

Whether he ran away or foul play was involved, at the end of the day our mission is to find him. If this is something his family didn't want to do, they most definitely wouldn't now be putting his information in systems in effort to find him some 40 years later.

Wishing all of those searching for him some answers and peace <3
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@Help find the missing posted above that his family did attempt to file a report for many years and hired several PI’s. It sounds like they did more than enough to try and locate him. This sounds like another case where the police refused to take the report, assumed he was a runaway, and probably didn’t bother to add him to the state missing children’s list. I’m sad his family was forced to wait this long to get a formal report filed and I hope they get answers soon.
 
HopeRains said:
As a reminder, this thread is entirely public, available to anyone on the web.
We do not know the circumstances if foul play was involved or if he ran away. We do not know what the family did/didn't do over the course of these last 40 years to find him. I guarantee they hope that he did run away and is living.

We here, more than anyone, should know a data system is only as good as what is put into it. Errors are made. Happens everyday. Websleuths, Namus and all other like-agencies are no different (LE, missing/Doe websites, etc.) And they also do not share all info publicly, even if they know. There are reasons behind it.

A runaway in Florida in early 81 was not an uncommon event and there are likely many more, probably thousands, that we have no knowledge of. Many, many of the missing get purged from data systems when they turn 18. The numbers of runaways LE deals with in FL is astounding. You all know that don't see every missing or Doe case on these youth. The NCMEC was not even formed until around 84 (as I recall). Resources were (and still are limited). In 84, he likely would not have even been accepted as a case due to his age and especially with no evidence of foul play.

Whether he ran away or foul play was involved, at the end of the day our mission is to find him. If this is something his family didn't want to do, they most definitely wouldn't now be putting his information in systems in effort to find him some 40 years later.

Wishing all of those searching for him some answers and peace <3
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Thank you! It’s so frustrating to see people jump to conclusions..

I spoke to the Sheriff about a month ago and he was working with one of the sisters. He did not suspect any issues within the family
MACopeland said:
These are AI generated age-progression photos that I made (for various ages). Probably not helpful but you never know.
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its great that you can do that! I don’t often use age progression photos, as I look for them at the age missing. It would be incredible helpful to have these for cases that show pictures much younger than the age of disappearance!
 

Leslie Terrence Fistel​

image.jpg
image-1.jpg
image-2.jpg

Left and Center: Leslie circa, 1981
Right: Age Progressed image
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: May 1, 1981
Missing From: Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date of Birth: June 10, 1964
Age: 16 years old
Height and Weight: 5’11” – 6’0″ and 150-160 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male, Brown hair, Hazel eyes
Details of Disappearance
Leslie was last seen in Dania Beach, Florida in May 1981. He got into an argument with his mother and is believed to have climbed out his bedroom window afterwards. Leslie was never seen or heard from again afterwards.

Leslie’s family attempted to report his disappearance to law enforcement multiple times since he vanished in 1981 but investigators refused to take the report for whatever reason. They also hired several private investigators who all came up empty handed.

A formal missing persons report was filed for him on June 7th 2024, 43 years after his disappearance. Leslie’s father, Terry Fistel, passed away on December 1st 1998 in Fort Lauderdale. In his obituary, he listed Leslie as “missing since childhood.”

Leslie is missing under unclear circumstances and his case remains unsolved.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Broward County Sheriff’s Office 954-321-4735
Source Information
Florida Crime Information Center
California Department of Justice
The Charley Project
NamUs
South Florida Sun Sentinel 12/09/1998
 
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