KY KY - Clyde Branum, 69, Barbourville, 12 March 1988

[TheArtfulDetective]

Clyde Branum



Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: March 12, 1988
Location Last Seen: Barbourville, Knox County, Kentucky

Description:

• Date of Birth: November 22, 1918
• Age: 69
• Race: White/Caucasian
• Gender: Male
• Height: 5' 6" (66 inches)
• Weight: 145 lbs.
• Hair Color: Gray/Graying
• Eye Color: Brown
• Nickname/Alias: Nicknames: Unknown
• Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
• Clothing & Personal Items: Unknown
• Identifiers: Unknown

Circumstances of Disappearance:
Clyde Branum was last seen leaving Barbourville, Kentucky on March 12, 1988. He and his son, Louie, 32, were en route to Columbus where Clyde was to have an eye exam. About a week later, Louie's body was found by a fisherman along the Cumberland River. He died as a result from two gunshot wounds to the chest. Clyde was nowhere to be found and has never been heard from again. Foul play is suspected in his disappearance and his whereabouts remain unknown.

***NamUs states that detectives and the family believe he drowned although his body was never found.
***Agencies report he was missing from Harlan, Harlan County, Kentucky.

Investigators:

• Kentucky State Police Post 10: (606) 573-3131
  Reference Case#: 10C880476

NCIC Case Number: Not available
NamUs Case Number: MP21058

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
ky missing
Clyde Branum 1918-1988 - Ancestry®

 

[TheArtfulDetective]

https://www.namus.gov/api/CaseSets/NamUs/MissingPersons/Cases/21058/Images/85358/Original

 

[TheArtfulDetective]

There are so many discrepancies in this case, it's maddening. I almost didn't want to post it because I'm not exactly sure what information is erroneous and what is valid. Perhaps you guys can clarify.

First off, NamUs is the most confusing. It states he's missing from Harlan, Kentucky. Assuming that means that's where he was residing at the time of his disappearance because he was actually last seen in Barbourville***, Kentucky according to the ^ ^ ^ above article. But then the article reported he was residing at 773 McClure Road which is in Winchester, Kentucky, over two hours away from Harlan.

***The article actually states he was last seen in Barboursville, (with an "s") but there's no such place in Kentucky. Probably just a type-o.

***Clyde's ancestry page lists his date of death as April 15, 1988. Assuming this means his family had a service for him without his body because his NamUs page was created on July 17, 2013, appearing that he had not been located.

His ancestry page also stated he died in Columbus, Bartholomew County, Indiana, which is four hours from Barbourville. The article reported he was traveling to "Columbus" but did not specify which state. There is, in fact, a Columbus, Kentucky, but it is six hours away from Barbourville.

***NamUs states that Clyde's date of last contact was March 12, 1988 which coincides with the article, but that he was last seen on November 22, 1988 (????) after his April 15th date of death according to his ancestry.

***It says he was going to an eye exam in "Columbus". If it really was Columbus, Indiana, it would have been a four hour drive from Barbourville. In addition, he would have had to pass through Louisville, Kentucky to get there. He couldn't get an eye exam in a larger city like Louisville? Why continue on another hour?

***Obviously the son met with foul play so it would seem that Clyde did as well. So why according to NamUs do investigators and the family believe he drowned?

***It was never mentioned if the vehicle they were driving was ever located.

 

[HopeRains]

The Republic (Columbus, IN) 20 Apr 88 pg 12.

 

[Oakie]

There are so many discrepancies in this case, it's maddening. I almost didn't want to post it because I'm not exactly sure what information is erroneous and what is valid. Perhaps you guys can clarify.

First off, NamUs is the most confusing. It states he's missing from Harlan, Kentucky. Assuming that means that's where he was residing at the time of his disappearance because he was actually last seen in Barbourville***, Kentucky according to the ^ ^ ^ above article. But then the article reported he was residing at 773 McClure Road which is in Winchester, Kentucky, over two hours away from Harlan.

I live on McClure Road. There is no "773"; where that would be, if it existed, is just a hay field.

There must be a McClure Road in one of the counties named in the article. McClure is a common name in KY.

 

[Pennysmom1]

This is a confusing case! Clyde is still listed as missing at NAMUS. Very little information found.

Missing Person / NamUs #MP21058

View NamUs missing person case MP21058 for Clyde Branum missing from Harlan, Kentucky. Date of last contact: Mar 12, 1988. NCMEC case number: --.

namus.nij.ojp.gov