FL FL - Sandy Seligman, 26, Miami, 17 August 1980 - from Canada

[Claudette]

You can post a fraction of the article and the link.

 

[Wakeful Dreamer]

Thank you Claudette. You have to sign up to see the actual picture but the transcription is further down the page.

http://newspaperarchive.com/galveston-daily-news/1980-08-18/

“MIAMI UPI Armed sky marshals moved into Miami and other cities Sunday and airport security guards inspected arriving passengers more carefully in hopes of ending a wave of air piracy that included a record three hijackings in a single day Saturday. The use of personality profile screening for arriving passengers led to the arrest Sunday at Miami of three men for trying to bring containers of gasoline aboard an airplane but one of them was later released when it was determined he was not involved. Police spotted Jose Antonio Lugones 39 with an unusual bulge in his pants as he tried to board an Eastern Airlines flight to Key West said Nettles acting chief of the FBI Miami office...”

 

[rosesfromangels]

If you google "crime in miami 1980" you will see an ABC news article "Miami in 1980 was a place under siege by drug traffickers".

Drugs were the first thought that came to mind. Would this be consistent in any way with this man's background? What was he doing in Miami supposedly?

 

[McSpy]

How close is the rental place to the beach? Could he have decided to take one last swim and drowned in the ocean? It may sound way out of the box, but we do have a lot of people drown around where I live so it often comes up as a possibility in my thought process.

It was August, so I imagine it was very hot and sticky, so I can see someone tempted to take a swim to cool off. However, how would he change his clothes? Also, we don't know how much luggage he was dragging around. Back then, most suitcases didn't have wheels. Even a large duffle bag would have been a burden to carry in that heat. To me, the mystery is what was his plans after dropping off the car? Seems like he needed a ride eventually to get to the airport, which leads me to believe he met someone or he was already with someone, who had transportation. Otherwise, he must have had plans to take the shuttle or a taxi. Do we know how long he stayed in Florida? Maybe he didn't have too many clothes with him. Wouldn't his wallet and other personal affects have been found on the beach? Unless, someone found them and decided to keep the stuff. JMO

 

[McSpy]

This is my first post and English is not my primary language, so please bear with me. According to the airport website and Wikipedia, Eastern Air Lines used Concourses C and D but eventually Concourse C was demolished and Concourse D is now part of the North Terminal. The current Hertz Rent A Car is across S Le Jeune Road, East of the Airport but there have been many modifications to that area throughout the years. The Airport itself is not near a beach. August 18 1980 was on a Sunday and I found a UPI note for Monday saying that three men had been arrested the day before for an attempted hijacking at one of the Eastern Air Lines gates. Should I cut and paste the news or only provide the link?

Yes, please do. I am curious now.

 

[Wanting2Help]

I sent a message to the detective asking a few of the questions posted above. I will let you know what I hear...

 

[McSpy]

It would be helpful to know his purpose of being in Florida and how long he stayed. Was he visiting a friend or friends? August is an odd time to visit. It is extremely hot and humid to the point that people stay indoors.

This is such a heartbreaking case, especially because his family has been waiting for answers over 30 years.

 

[nemo'smom]

Someone asked for ancestry or genealogical data upthread? I looked and found nothing I could pinpoint as our cold case.

Could someone find out a few facts if possible? Any of this will be helpful.

What was his legal name?
What were his parents names and any year of birth?
Where exactly did they live in B. C.?
Siblings?
Marriages or relationships?
What did he do for a living (the missing person)?

If you don't want to post it on the thread, pm to me. I'll use my genealogy skills from unclaimed to see what I can find.
Thanks! NM

 

[Sulamith]

If you google "crime in miami 1980" you will see an ABC news article "Miami in 1980 was a place under siege by drug traffickers".

Drugs were the first thought that came to mind. Would this be consistent in any way with this man's background? What was he doing in Miami supposedly?

I had forgotten about Miami being a hotbed of drugs back then. Of course I have no idea what Sandy Seligman was involved with in Miami but there was a lot of drug smuggling back then. Maybe he witnessed something he should not have seen. Or maybe I have been watching too many videos. The docu Cocaine Cowboys and the movie Blow with Johnny Depp come to mind.

 

[McSpy]

Someone asked for ancestry or genealogical data upthread? I looked and found nothing I could pinpoint as our cold case.

Could someone find out a few facts if possible? Any of this will be helpful.

What was his legal name?
What were his parents names and any year of birth?
Where exactly did they live in B. C.?
Siblings?
Marriages or relationships?
What did he do for a living (the missing person)?

If you don't want to post it on the thread, pm to me. I'll use my genealogy skills from unclaimed to see what I can find.
Thanks! NM

Makes me wonder if the name Sandy was a nickname.

 

[Sleuthster]

Makes me wonder if the name Sandy was a nickname.

In a male it can be a nickname for Alexander

 

[carbuff]

It can also be a nickname for any guy with red or reddish blond hair. I went to college with a guy named Sandy whose real given name was Hector. Seriously.

 

[donnam]

Do We even know for sure he was the one who dropped the car off? I have returned cars after hours and just left the keys in them. Not sure you have to give ID to return them. Just a thought.

 

[carbuff]

Do We even know for sure he was the one who dropped the car off? I have returned cars after hours and just left the keys in them. Not sure you have to give ID to return them. Just a thought.

Oh, that's a good thought. Even if somebody checks you in, they don't ask to see your license, just the contract and the keys.

 

[bubbabearzle]

Does anyone have a subscription to Ancestry.com who might be able to take a look and see if they have any useful info?

I have a membership - what would you like for me to look up?
Jess

 

[marycarney]

What a puzzling case. Wonder if his family is still alive (parents) and if so, what have THEY uncovered?

 

[McSpy]

Do We even know for sure he was the one who dropped the car off? I have returned cars after hours and just left the keys in them. Not sure you have to give ID to return them. Just a thought.

Very good point! Makes me wonder exactly what time and date he was last seen or heard from. Establishing who he was staying with or if he was staying at a hotel would be helpful to know.

 

[carbuff]

Very good point! Makes me wonder exactly what time and date he was last seen or heard from. Establishing who he was staying with or if he was staying at a hotel would be helpful to know.

That would probably mean the phone call to his mother on April 15 was the last day he was known alive. That's a lot wider window of time for him to have run into trouble.

 

[Wanting2Help]

I have a membership - what would you like for me to look up?
Jess

I was hoping for anything that you could find on Sandy that might help... Not really sure? TIA

 

[McSpy]

That would probably mean the phone call to his mother on April 15 was the last day he was known alive. That's a lot wider window of time for him to have run into trouble.

The perp could have dropped off the car as to not have the rental car agency alerting the police over a possible stolen vehicle. Although, it is interesting that the car was dropped off the same day Sandy was to take that flight.