MI MI - Henry Baltimore, 21, East Lansing, 30 May 1973

[dotr]

Family pleads for answers in 1973 MSU missing-person case with Flint connections

His keys, car, and clothes were left in his East Lansing apartment untouched as if Henry Baltimore Jr. just vanished without a trace. Now 41-years later his family is reaching out to the public in hopes that someone will come forward with information on his disappearance.

www.mlive.com

 

[dotr]

June 2023

The Strange Disappearance of MSU’s First Black Drum Major: What Happened to Henry Baltimore?

The 21-year-old vanished two days before he was due to testify in court against a man who had robbed him.

medium.com

Jenn Baxter
''At first, investigators considered the possibility that Henry had voluntarily disappeared because he didn’t want to testify against Roy Davis in his trial, which was scheduled to start the following week. After a couple of days, however, they admitted there was a possibility he had been abducted. On June 5, 1973, the department issued a statement about the case, noting, “The circumstances around [Henry’s] disappearance are suspicious and foul play is suspected.”

''Henry Louis Baltimore was just 21 years old when he vanished from East Lansing, Michigan in May 1973. He vanished just two days before he was scheduled to testify against an acquaintance in court; investigators believe this event was the catalyst for his disappearance, whether he voluntarily went missing to avoid testifying or if he was a victim of foul play. Henry’s loved ones do not believe he would have walked away from his life voluntarily; all of his belongings, including his car, were left behind. Henry has brown eyes and black hair, and at the time of his disappearance, he was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 175 pounds. Henry was last seen wearing light gray pants, a black turtleneck sweater, and black and white shoes. If you have any information about Henry’s disappearance, please contact the East Lansing Police Department at 517–319–6811.''

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Henry Louis Baltimore Jr. – The Charley Project

 

[Richard]

Roy L. Davis knows what happened to Henry.

 

[twistedcrimes]

Roy is no longer with us… Obituary for Roy Linzy Davis at Sheldon T Banks Funeral Chapel
”He was always there to help those in need and greeted everyone he met with a smile.” “If you needed help solving a problem, Roy was that guy.”

 

[ifindedout]

Roy is no longer with us… Obituary for Roy Linzy Davis at Sheldon T Banks Funeral Chapel
”He was always there to help those in need and greeted everyone he met with a smile.” “If you needed help solving a problem, Roy was that guy.”

Wow, thanks for the update, and welcome to Websleuths!

 

[Richard]

Roy Linzy Davis
July 9, 1953 - August 30, 2023

 

[Richard]

It is a very likely scenario that Henry was abducted alive from his apartment and taken elsewhere.

A likely route that his abductors would have taken would have been to travel by vehicle from East Lansing, Michigan to Flint, Michigan (home territory of Roy Linzy Davis.

The main road at that time (1973) would have been Michigan highway M-78, which passed by or through several Michigan towns (Bath, Perry, Bancroft, Durand, Lennon, and Swartz Creek) and counties (Ingham, Clinton, Shiawassee, and Genesee) before arriving at Flint.

M-78 was in most places a four lane highway with east and west lanes separated by a grassy median. There were numerous entrance and exit cross roads which led to various towns and rural areas.

Beginning in 1974, M-78 began to be incorporated into what is now I-69, a modern highway with several lanes and specified exit/on ramps.

Although Henry's case is one in the jurisdiction of East Lansing or Lansing police, a case could probably be made that due to the likely hood of him being taken through several other jurisdictions via a State Highway, it could be considered a Michigan State Police case.

LINK to Map:

Lansing (Michigan) to Flint map

Use the trip map to plan your next road trip.

www.trippy.com

 

[Richard]

Roy Linzy Davis (1953-2023)

LINK:

ROY LINZY DAVIS Obituary 2023 - Golden Gate Funeral Home

View ROY LINZY DAVIS's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

www.goldengatefuneralhome.com

 

[dotr]

Hoping that whomever the killer might be, that before he died he confessed where Henry's body can be located, imo.

 

[DD Byrd]

I haven't seen it mentioned whether Roy knew Henry before the robbery? If not, and assuming the 2nd assailant was indeed Roy's cousin, then it stands to reason that Roy got intel from him. Which makes the cousin more than an accomplice. If Henry wasn't flashy, then it was known he had items worth stealing at home (golf clubs, etc.) And I realize a gun changes the dynamic, but if all the roommates had been home, there'd be 4 grown men (including a football player) that could have made this, at the very least, more complicated and not clean. So, I think Henry was being watched and the assailants knew his schedule and when he'd be alone.

We're told Roy used threats...it's entirely possible the cousin was made to help kill (and/or dispose of) Henry or he'd be next. And even without murder the cousin is up for aggravated assault, robbery, false imprisonment, felony possession of a firearm, IN commitment of felony etc. etc. If he actually said it, Roy was correct this would be "messing up" life. It's curious that if the 2nd man was a cousin, his immediate family wasn't tracked down and questioned? Or mentioned by Henry's either now or then?

I think it's possible Henry DID go under the radar thinking he'd keep his family safe. Just not permanently. I can see a scenario where he'd hide until the arraignment (2 days?) was over, thinking that would appease Roy and show he wasn't going to pursue it. But Roy and/or cousin got to him first. I think Roy is likely directly involved in the killing part to be sure it was complete, since he was the first one charged.

So where do you go that is no where near your family or another friend? I find it unlikely he remained in the apartment, and I'd imagine his roommates would have similar concerns unless everyone was packing. He might have gone to a hotel to lie low, possibly one with a 24 hr office and selected a room right next to it for (attempted) safety. I'd also like to know who else knew the predicament he was in...MSU staff? If he was really freaked and desperate, I can see hiding in a locked, concrete equipment room for 2 days. But a hotel seems more likely if he wasn't afraid for his life, just more assault.

And if he was still reasonably functional, what other commitments did he have those 2 days... a regular appointment, practice, study group, habit of going to the movies alone? We know he was pistol-whipped once (haven't seen if he was rendered unconscious), and could certainly have been again. We already know Roy used bindings (and probably a gag the 2nd time). Incapacitated but not bleeding out would make less of a mess in a car trunk until they arrive at wherever he is killed and disposed of. I'd imagine that location wasn't just a roadside ditch, but had more thought put into it.

Who is the 2nd man, what happened to him in the days after the disappearance, and where the hell is he now?

 

[twistedcrimes]

Roy did know Henry before the robbery. Roy had come to the house at least twice for parties where there was weed being smoked. The assumption made by some is that Roy thought Henry was selling drugs, so he figured he'd be able to get a good bit of drugs and money by robbing him. He was wrong about this because one of the roommates said they just did recreational marijuana at the apartment, and they weren't drug dealers.

 

[Richard]

...Who is the 2nd man, what happened to him in the days after the disappearance, and where the hell is he now?

I have never seen a reference to the second man's name. I believe that the identification of him as a "cousin" might have come from a member of Henry's family, and that the man might have been a cousin to Henry - not to Roy.

Since there were charges sworn out on Roy as having assaulted and robbed Henry, those public documents might still be available and the might include the name Roy's accomplice.

 

[dotr]

Jan 16, 2021 MICHIGAN
The first African American drum major of a major university marching band disappeared in 1973 and has not been found since.For more information: https://whathappenedtohenry.com/

The Strange Disappearance of MSU’s First Black Drum Major: What Happened to Henry Baltimore?

The 21-year-old vanished two days before he was due to testify in court against a man who had robbed him.

medium.com

‘What happened to Henry?’: Michigan State University’s first Black drum major disappeared 49 years ago

Henry Louis Baltimore Jr. disappeared 49 years ago, just days before he was scheduled to testify against a man who robbed him at gunpoint.

www.clickondetroit.com

 

[Richard]

If Henry Baltimore was abducted from his East Lansing apartment by Roy Davis and unnamed accomplice, he probably would have been driven from East Lansing toward Flint, Michigan via route M-78. Beginning in 1974, construction of a new highway, I-69 began which overlaid parts of M-78.

It is possible that Henry was killed and buried somewhere along the route in an isolated wooded area, but also possible that he was transported all the way to Flint to a secluded place known by his assailants.

 

[Richard]

Remembering Henry as college football and marching band season begins. He has been missing for over 52 years.

 

[dotr]

• Henry Louis Baltimore Jr. – The Charley Project

• Henry Louis Baltimore Jr.​

  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  • 
  Baltimore, circa 1973
• Missing Since05/30/1973
• Missing FromEast Lansing, Michigan
• ClassificationEndangered Missing
• SexMale
• RaceBlack
• Date of Birth01/16/1952 (73)
• Age21 years old
• Height and Weight6'2, 175 pounds
• Clothing/Jewelry DescriptionA black turtleneck sweater, light gray slacks and black and gray or black and white shoes.
• Associated Vehicle(s)1968 Buick (accounted for)
• Distinguishing CharacteristicsAfrican-American male. Black hair, brown eyes. Baltimore's hair was styled in a large Afro at the time of his disappearance.

Details of Disappearance​

Baltimore was last seen in East Lansing, Michigan on May 30, 1973. He was a junior at Michigan State University in Jackson at the time, studying social science and music with the intention of becoming a social worker. He was an honors student and a co-drum major in the university marching band, and was considered quite musically talented. He also had a job at the university library.

Baltimore's 1968 Buick was found at his home an hour and a half after he was last seen. He also left behind his car keys, money, clothes and other belongings. At the time of his disappearance, he lived with three roommates at an off-campus apartment in the 300 block of Oak Hill Avenue in East Lansing. He is the second of eight children and the oldest son. His older sister was also a student at Michigan State in 1973, getting her master's degree.

Baltimore was discovered missing when his sister went to his apartment to get a paper she'd agreed to type for him. He wasn't there, and his roommates said he'd gone to the library and never returned. His sister became concerned after the due date for his paper came and went without her hearing from him, and she contacted their father, who went to the police.

In March 1973, Baltimore went to the police and reported that two male attackers had tied him to his bed, pistol-whipped him and stole $110 in cash, a golf bag, a watch and some clothing. He said he'd waited ten days to report the crime because he was afraid.

One suspect, 22-year-old Roy L. Davis, was subsequently arrested and charged with armed robbery. Baltimore was fined $50 for failing to appear at Davis's preliminary hearing to testify against him. He resurfaced two days later and asked the police to drop the case, but they refused. He later testified at a rescheduled hearing. Baltimore told his sister that Davis had threatened to kill him, and his family stated the criminal case had caused him a great deal of stress.

Baltimore disappeared two days before Davis's arraignment on June 1. Neighbors stated they saw Davis knocking on Baltimore's front door on the day he went missing. Later that year, Davis pleaded guilty to felonious assault with intent to commit robbery and was sentenced to six months in jail. He has never been charged in connection with Baltimore's disappearance, and he has an alibi for the time he disappeared, backed up by his mother. As of 2020, Davis is believed to be still alive and possibly in the Tulsa, Oklahoma area.

Baltimore is a former Cub Scout and Jackson Citizen Patriot delivery boy, and a 1970 graduate of Parkside High School in Jackson, Michigan. Authorities initially believed he went into hiding so he would not have to testify against Davis, but the length of time that has passed since his disappearance makes this unlikely. His family never thought he had left voluntarily, as he kept in close contact with them prior to his disappearance, and they have not heard from him since 1973.

Baltimore's father and two of his brothers have since died, but his mother and remaining siblings are still alive and looking for him. Foul play is now suspected in his case, which remains unsolved.''

​