MA MA - Taj Narbonne, 9, Leominster, 31 Mar 1981

[missacorah]

Was his body ever located where they were looking?

 

[Rle7]

As the seasons pass, and years along with them, a local family still bears the unbearable, not knowing the fate of a missing child.

The 29th anniversary of the disappearance of Leominster resident Taj Narbonne, then nine years old will happen on March 31, and Leominster police detectives still keep the case open and active.

Detectives Patrick Aubuchon and Richard Gallant took over the case back in 2003, and according to Gallant, the procedures of handling a missing child today versus 1981 are astronomical.

“The first thing we do today is get a picture of the child out immediately,” he began.

When young Taj disappeared from his Naples Street home that March night, his mother Annette was not aware of anything wrong until morning. She went into his bedroom to wake him for school and he was no where to be found. The police were called, but nothing started moving for a solid week on the case.

“It was a good week before the people in town were even aware of a missing child,” Aubuchon said.

The detectives explained the various policies and procedures that are in place today, with one of the biggest being the Amber Alerts.

“Response today is very different. We have technology now that did not exist back then,” Gallant said.

http://www.leominsterchamp.com/news...appearance_still_on_minds_29_years_later.html

 

[believe09]

Maybe we should work backwards and try and figure if step dad had killed him, where he might have left him...any dirt cellars, new concrete, wells, that kind of stuff in and around the house?

 

[Richard]

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the disappearance of Taj Narbonne.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

30 YEARS LOST

Taj Narbonne missed but not forgotten

If you take a look back at your life, think of all that you may have experienced over the past 30 years.

Some good, some bad, some irrelevant, some tremendously important. Put that into a deeper perspective - that is how long Leominster’s Taj Narbonne has been missing.

[snip]

The main suspect to Annette is still her now ex-husband, Clarence Dean. Dean has since been incarcerated on other crimes, but has never been connected to Taj’s disappearance.

“He has always been suspect to me with what happened to Taj back then,” she noted.

[snip]

“I knew there were lots of issues going on at his home with his stepfather. Taj talked about it all the time. I never laid eyes on him (Dean). Taj used to tell me he was being abused at home.”

Drury also said Taj spoke just about every day about running away from home.

[snip]

“Any tips will be followed up on. Tips can be given anonymously. It does not matter how big or small it is, there is information out there that will help solve this case. We want some closure for the family on what happened to Taj that night. I am asking anyone with any information to please come forward with it,” Aubuchon said.

Taj’s case is listed on the Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website, so if the person or people that may know something are uncomfortable contacting the local law enforcement, they can give the information to the center.

More: http://www.leominsterchamp.com/news/2011-04-01/Front_Page/30_YEARS_LOST.html

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Where is Taj Narbonne?

On Monday, March 30, 1981, Taj Narbonne sat at his grandparents' kitchen table in Fitchburg, dreading what was to come when he returned home to his mother and stepfather that night.

"I told him he was going home," said Louis Narbonne, Taj's grandfather. "He said, 'With Clarence there? No way.'"

Taj, 9, was referring to Clarence Dean, whom his mother married when Taj was 7 years old. According to Louis and his wife, Eunice, Taj had been living with friends of his parents because he was terrified of his stepfather.

[snip]

The evidence against Dean is circumstantial. In fact, police didn't collect any physical evidence that's still used in the investigation today. Anything that was collected has since been discarded because it wasn't relevant, Aubuchon said.

MUCH more: http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/ci_17712558#ixzz1K8E09ZjL
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[mysticrose]

I am posting this link to another thread because I think it is a strong possibility that the boy from the thread below is Taj.....

Unknown Boy, shown bound and gagged in photo - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

 

[momtective]

I'm really Taj is still alive and living under an assumed name. From reading the Johnny Gosch website it appears that some of the kids are. If Taj was indeed one of the kids I hope he got out and is alive and living the best life he possibly can.

 

[believe09]

That would be glorious Mom. I am leaning towards Dean I must confess and I suspect that there is much in the police files if they are still attempting to interview him.

 

[Kimster]

I have no words. Wow.

 

[believe09]

I want to give a shout out to a dedicated cold case detective who wont let this one go.

 

[summer_breeze]

http://www.leominsterchamp.com/news...Narbonne_missing_child_case_still_active.html

STORY BY DIANE C. BEAUDOIN

Leominster’s most infamous missing child’s case is still an active and ongoing investigation, and some recent activity on a website may provide a new direction for law enforcement to look at.

 

[askfornina]

I have no words. Wow.

right! truly amazing

 

[believe09]

Detective Pat Aubuchon was recognized by the local media as being one of the most fascinating people in 2011. His unflagging devotion to Taj's case was singled out.

Story Here

Thirty years is a long time for a person to be missing, but that doesn't mean they're not worth finding. Leominster Detective Patrick Aubuchon knows that, which is why he continues to aggressively pursue leads in the disappearance of Taj Narbonne, a 9-year-old Leominster boy who went missing in 1981 after fighting with Clarence Dean, the stepfather who terrified him. Aubuchon said the chances that Narbonne ran away and started a new life are slim. Though police at the time treated the case as a runaway, Aubuchon has studied stacks of records that led him to name Dean, who is now locked up because he is mentally ill, a person of interest in Narbonne's disappearance. Tips -- some credible, some not -- have come up over the years. With patience and methodical study, Aubuchon remains dedicated to locating Taj, closing the case and finding justice for a boy too scared to stay home."

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[georgiagirl]

The stepfather obviously did something! Maybe a little waterboarding will make him talk!

 

[ShortShannon]

Wow. I live in a town neighboring Leominster, and I just came across this thread. I'd never heard of this missing boy before, since I was very young at the time. I'm glad to hear that there is such a dedicated detective willing to keep looking for him.

 

[belfastgirl73]

Certainly sounds like the stepfather was involved. 30 years is too long! Taj needs to be brought home.

I guess the stepfather if he is locked up and mentally ill, may never talk, but here's hoping that he will someday.

 

[believe09]

Welcome to WS ShortShannon!!!!!

I think if Dean was/is involved, there is a limited area to search for Taj...if we assume Taj is dead. It isnt like Dean disappeared for a week after Taj went missing. Now, my understanding is that the areas around Taj's house were heavily wooded which complicates things, but I am certain the detective is doing his best to narrow down the search area.

I wish we had someone who knew Dean or was familiar with him outside of the home posting on the thread with us. He is kind of a high profile guy given his criminal history.

 

[Infobia]

This reminds me of the line in the Steig Larsson book: Everyone has their 'Nicole' case that they can't let go in the police force

 

[believe09]

Welcome to Websleuths, Infobia!

Your quote is completely appropriate.