FL FL - Kenneth Gautier, 20, Ruskin, 1 May 1975

[PayrollNerd]

I am at a loss to understand why they couldn’t determine who in that cell block placed that call. There probably weren’t cameras at that time. However, how many inmates were in that cell block? Did LE question all of them? If KLG was using an alias, perhaps they could flush out his real identity. Perhaps KLG had a friend that was an inmate and he asked that friend to make that call for him. It seems like an alias, and charges for providing a false name, would come to light thru a public defender assigned to an inmate.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Kenneth Lee Gautier - marijuana arrest Tampa Bay Times May 21, 1975 - Newspapers.com

Possibly unrelated but there's a newspaper report here of a "Kenneth L Gautier" who was arrested for possessing weed and "contributing to delinquency of a minor".
The age and location both check out. It would appear to be before he went missing. Not sure it has any relevance to this disappearance but interesting.

That clears up the timeline a bit. He was reported missing 5/1/1975? Arrested 20 days later, in Manatee County on “Beer Can Island” which is Longboat Key, FL. That means he knew someone with a boat, which is how you get to Beer Can Island. (The partying there goes on to this day.) Perhaps a roommate owned a boat?

He listed his address as Sun City, FL. That is 4-5 miles south of Ruskin, FL where the uncle lived. Had he already moved out of the roommates house or was he about to move in with the roommates? Who picked him up from jail when he got out?

 

[theshadow45]

Bumping for Kenneth, today is his birthday.

 

[squirelgoingnuts48]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
4881DMFL - Kenneth Lee Gautier
http://www.nampn.org/cases/gautier_kenneth_lee.html

Added to NamUs 4/11/16. Dentals and fingerprints not available; initial inquiry underway for DNA.

The date missing differs; Doe says May 1st, NamUs says June 1st, Nampn says May/June. I put May in the Title so as not to rule out possible matches in case they were found in May '75.

Yesterday I ran across a newspaper article of Kenneth Lee Gauntier 20 arrested for a Marijuana charge at Beer Can island in the company of a 16 year old girl around May 25th 1975.

 

[ekardh]

Yesterday I ran across a newspaper article of Kenneth Lee Gauntier 20 arrested for a Marijuana charge at Beer Can island in the company of a 16 year old girl around May 25th 1975.

You're referring to the article I posted one page back:

FL - FL - Kenneth Gautier, 20, Ruskin, 1 May 1975

 

[squirelgoingnuts48]

You're referring to the article I posted one page back:

FL - FL - Kenneth Gautier, 20, Ruskin, 1 May 1975

Yes but he went missing around the same time he had to go to court a month later. If you look in the arrests on the same page others were arrested for Marijuana possession and in the company of a under age girl suspicious!?!?

 

[theshadow45]

Bumping, today is Kenneth’s birthday.

 

[theshadow45]

Kenneth has been missing for 47 years today.

 

[theshadow45]

Bumping, today is Kenneth’s birthday.

 

[theshadow45]

Kenneth has been missing for about 48 years today.

 

[Diane Redfern]

If he was visiting his uncle, why is the call to his mother considered the last contact? Where did he phone from? Was he still with his uncle? Where is his uncle's testimony?

 

[Pennysmom1]

Kenneth Gautier Missing Man's family gets 2nd call May 13, 1981 Orlando Sentinel

Clipping found in The Orlando Sentinel published in Orlando, Florida on 5/13/1981. Kenneth Gautier Missing Man's family gets 2nd call May 13, 1981 Orlando Sentinel

www.newspapers.com

 

[Pennysmom1]

4881DMFL - Kenneth Lee Gautier

Identifiers​

Dentals: Not available
Fingerprints: Available (NamUs lists as not available)
DNA: Samples submitted - Tests not complete


<<At the time of his disappearance, he was driving a green Volkswagen Karmann Ghia .>>

Has the vehicle ever been located? It seems like it would be fairly uncommon.

 

[madamx]

Kenneth Lee Gautier - marijuana arrest Tampa Bay Times May 21, 1975 - Newspapers.com

Possibly unrelated but there's a newspaper report here of a "Kenneth L Gautier" who was arrested for possessing weed and "contributing to delinquency of a minor".
The age and location both check out. It would appear to be before he went missing. Not sure it has any relevance to this disappearance but interesting.

In the article it states he had a bail of $800. I wonder who paid that. Someone mentioned he had a court date he never made it to. That would mean whoever posted bail would lose their money no?

 

[Sleuthster]

4881DMFL - Kenneth Lee Gautier

Identifiers​

Dentals: Not available
Fingerprints: Available (NamUs lists as not available)
DNA: Samples submitted - Tests not complete


<<At the time of his disappearance, he was driving a green Volkswagen Karmann Ghia .>>

Has the vehicle ever been located? It seems like it would be fairly uncommon.

Missing Person / NamUs #MP33291

View NamUs missing person case MP33291 for Kenneth Lee Gautier missing from Ruskin, Florida. Date of last contact: Jun 01, 1975. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov

I wonder if his car was towed from where he parked to go to beer can island if it was him arrested after the date listed for his disappearance.

 

[Sleuthster]

I wonder where his apartment was in Bradenton. Looking at where his car could have gone into a body of water between Ruskin and there.

 

[Sleuthster]

Partial skull found in Sept 1975 in Tampa Bay Pinellas side which is near where beer can island is on Hillsborough side. 2496UMFL

 

[madamx]

Partial skull found in Sept 1975 in Tampa Bay Pinellas side which is near where beer can island is on Hillsborough side. 2496UMFL

Oh good find!

 

[PayrollNerd]

Interesting update.

Tampa Bay’s Beer Can Island is for sale for $14.2 million

Four friends bought it a little more than six years ago and turned it into a party venue.

www.tampabay.com

Four friends needed a place to park their floating bar, bought an island, ran afoul of the powers-that-be and then fought for their right to party.

Now, a little more than six years after their purchase, they are selling Pine Key Tampa Bay — better known as the apostrophe-shaped Beer Can Island located between Apollo Beach and MacDill Air Force Base.

 

[theshadow45]

Bumping, today is Kenneth’s birthday.