OK OK - Stephen “Steve” Lee Murphy, last seen in Claremore sometime in 1976, not reported missing until July 2022

[Laughing]

Tommy died from heart conditions due to alchohol. William was Tommy's father. Stephen had 2 biological siblings and 2 half siblings. One biological sibling passed away in 2017. According to obituary Tommy is listed but Stephen was not.

Remember that the person talking to the funeral home -- considered the informant -- may not have known Steven so didn't know to include mention of him in the obituary.

My great-grandfather's birthplace is incorrect in his obit pp the sister-in-law who spoke with the funeral home gave her husband's birthplace as my great-grandfathers, she did not know the family moved between the births of the 2 brothers.

As @carbuff points out about all of find-a-grave, the information is useful but not definitive.

Hope you find/hear something before August wraps up!

 

[Snoangel26]

Remember that the person talking to the funeral home -- considered the informant -- may not have known Steven so didn't know to include mention of him in the obituary.

My great-grandfather's birthplace is incorrect in his obit pp the sister-in-law who spoke with the funeral home gave her husband's birthplace as my great-grandfathers, she did not know the family moved between the births of the 2 brothers.

As @carbuff points out about all of find-a-grave, the information is useful but not definitive.

Hope you find/hear something before August wraps up!

Thank you. I believe my Aunt's husband didn't know she had another brother. I've learned that Find A Grave is useful but not always correct. I hope I get something by the end of the month.

 

[Snoangel26]

I haven't used that site, calling another genealogist:

@LotsaLatte

That would be my GENI account. Tommy was my grandfather.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Just adding some more Yearbook photos for reference…

1973 WRHS


1974 WRHS


1975 WRHS
(Judging by the people standing next to him in this photo, I’d say he was on the shorter end of the height estimate - I cropped their faces out)

 

[Snoangel26]

Just adding some more Yearbook photos for reference…

1973 WRHS
View attachment 361772

1974 WRHS
View attachment 361773View attachment 361774

1975 WRHS
View attachment 361775 View attachment 361776(Judging by the people standing next to him in this photo, I’d say he was on the shorter end of the height estimate - I cropped their faces out)

I'm 5'2". Possible Stephen is possibly 5'4"

 

[sleuthin4fun]

I was not able to get his OMPF as I don't have a SSN or service number.

Found the answer to my question. So hoping you get answers.

 

[Romulus]

Italy - Living WhtMale, 40-60, Alias Steve Lee, alleged place and DOB, summer '05

From site of italian transmission missing Chi l'ha visto? I have found this interesting case http://www.chilhavisto.rai.it/dl/clv/Li_riconoscete/ContentSet-e364da2a-0ad2-47ba-a101-90ab1a5e4748.html The details of case Workers at the Mestre office of a social cooperative in the city of...

www.websleuths.com

Possible this man??

 

[OddOneOut]

Italy - Living WhtMale, 40-60, Alias Steve Lee, alleged place and DOB, summer '05

From site of italian transmission missing Chi l'ha visto? I have found this interesting case http://www.chilhavisto.rai.it/dl/clv/Li_riconoscete/ContentSet-e364da2a-0ad2-47ba-a101-90ab1a5e4748.html The details of case Workers at the Mestre office of a social cooperative in the city of...

www.websleuths.com

Possible this man??

View attachment 362599

Possible but I would think unlikely. The unidentified person speaks multiple languages. As far as we know, Steve Murphy only speaks English. Also, Steve Murphy worked in a motor pool which implies mechanical knowledge not the study of languages.

Are DNA or dental records available for this unidentified person?

 

[carbuff]

I think it's unlikely, but on the other hand...

Learning new languages doesn't require a degree or even formal study if you're living around people who speak it. The education might be harder to come by but if he had been assigned to various bases around the world, he could have acquired much of it just by being around another culture. Some people just have that knack.

I also think the face is wrong--but that's not something I'm very good at.

 

[OddOneOut]

I think it's unlikely, but on the other hand...

Learning new languages doesn't require a degree or even formal study if you're living around people who speak it. The education might be harder to come by but if he had been assigned to various bases around the world, he could have acquired much of it just by being around another culture. Some people just have that knack.

I also think the face is wrong--but that's not something I'm very good at.

I agree. What makes me think it is unlikely is the number of new languages. One or two makes sense to me for the 8 or 9 years he was in the military. We really need to know more about Steve Murphy's military service. It could answer many questions and provide solid leads to his skills and interests.

 

[carbuff]

I agree. What makes me think it is unlikely is the number of new languages. One or two makes sense to me for the 8 or 9 years he was in the military. We really need to know more about Steve Murphy's military service. It could answer many questions and provide solid leads to his skills and interests.

Good point.

Though if he stayed in Europe or the Middle East after his service ended, he'd be exposed to a lot more languages and cultures there than if he came back to the states. Speaking and reading several languges is much more common there.

(When one of the Carbuff offspring was living in Germany for his job, we heard a common joke: "What do you call a person who speaks only one language? American.")

I can't see anything that points toward a match except the name and birth year/month. But nothing to conclusively rule it out, either.

 

[OddOneOut]

Good point.

Though if he stayed in Europe or the Middle East after his service ended, he'd be exposed to a lot more languages and cultures there than if he came back to the states. Speaking and reading several languges is much more common there.

(When one of the Carbuff offspring was living in Germany for his job, we heard a common joke: "What do you call a person who speaks only one language? American.")

I can't see anything that points toward a match except the name and birth year/month. But nothing to conclusively rule it out, either.

I understand; however, there is a question as to whether or not he was ever stationed outside of the U.S. Also, most members of my family were mechanically inclined. Those that were in the military didn't learn any foreign languages that I am aware of. We really need to know where he was stationed. It seems that every possible clue goes back to the military records.

 

[OddOneOut]

I wonder if he could have entered another branch of the service later.

 

[Snoangel26]

Italy - Living WhtMale, 40-60, Alias Steve Lee, alleged place and DOB, summer '05

From site of italian transmission missing Chi l'ha visto? I have found this interesting case http://www.chilhavisto.rai.it/dl/clv/Li_riconoscete/ContentSet-e364da2a-0ad2-47ba-a101-90ab1a5e4748.html The details of case Workers at the Mestre office of a social cooperative in the city of...

www.websleuths.com

Possible this man??

View attachment 362599

DOB is off 10 years than my father . I was born August 1975. I really hope this gentleman gets his identity back. My heart breaks for the missing and unidentified.

 

[Snoangel26]

Italy - Living WhtMale, 40-60, Alias Steve Lee, alleged place and DOB, summer '05

From site of italian transmission missing Chi l'ha visto? I have found this interesting case http://www.chilhavisto.rai.it/dl/clv/Li_riconoscete/ContentSet-e364da2a-0ad2-47ba-a101-90ab1a5e4748.html The details of case Workers at the Mestre office of a social cooperative in the city of...

www.websleuths.com

Possible this man??

View attachment 362599

I have no clue if Stephen served in any other branch. My gut says no as he was discharged for AWOL and Misconduct. I don't know if he knew any other languages. I am currently still waiting for the Detective to acquire his service records.

 

[carbuff]

It sounds like it's really really unlikely to be this guy...

 

[RedHaus]

I'm 5'2". Possible Stephen is possibly 5'4"

From first post on p1 of this thread:

5’4”-5’7” 140-180lbs Brown hair, brown eyes

 

[Laughing]

I have no clue if Stephen served in any other branch. My gut says no as he was discharged for AWOL and Misconduct. I don't know if he knew any other languages. I am currently still waiting for the Detective to acquire his service records.

Now slow down, you don't have the service record yet, so you, only stories from people who don't want you to know your Dad....

Maybe your Congressional Rep will send you a much different service record. Soon!

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[Snoangel26]

Now slow down, you don't have the service record yet, so you, only stories from people who don't want you to know your Dad....

Maybe your Congressional Rep will send you a much different service record. Soon!

jmho ymmv lrr

Very true. I am calling the Detective tomorrow to find out if she has gotten any other news. Thank you

 

[OddOneOut]

According to: Is there a list of marines that went AWOL? - Answers

"Marines do not go "AWOL" they go UA -Unauthorized Absence- Absent With out Leave is an Army term, but to answer your question "no" there is not a list that i know of."