Here's a September 12, 2007 Monett Times article with slightly more information:
Lawrence County Cold Case file looks at 1985 disappearance of Vijay Patel
Article Text:
Clues sought that could reveal fate of man after 22 years
Date: March 1, 1985
Victim: Vijaykumar "Vijay" P. Patel
Address: Aurora, MO
D.O.B.: July 13, 1966
Case: Missing Person
The family still has hopes that their loved one is alive and will soon be found and come back home.
Lawrence County authorities, while not as hopeful for the "happily-ever-after" outcome, would at least like to have the missing pieces of this missing person mystery found and put firmly into place.
According to the case report, Vijaykumar "Vijay" P. Patel, 18, was last seen leaving for work March 1, 1985, to a family restaurant located next door to the Sands Motel in Aurora. His family owned and managed the motel since moving to the area in 1981. Patel worked just across the parking lot from the place he called home.
On March 1, 1985, Patel left for work, and according to family members, never returned home.
"He went to work from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m., and he never came home," said Naresh "Nick" Patel, the victim's brother. "It was just across the parking lot.
"In all this time, not a phone call, nothing," he continued. "It's very strange."
Patel, who hailed from India, was typical of most young adults, straining at the reins of authority and trying to find his place in the world.
"He and my Dad would have arguments, and he would leave for a day or two," Patel said. "But he always came back."
But this time was different.
According to reports given by the family to the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department, Vijay apparently got off work and left in an older model green Pontiac, bearing Missouri license plates NGZ 366. He was wearing a white shirt, blue jeans and cowboy boots. At 18 years of age, he stood 5-feet, 10-inches, and weighed between 140 and 150 pounds. Although of Indian descent, Vijay was described as having black hair, brown eyes and fair skin.
Vijay was not a citizen of the United States at the time of his disappearance, and authorities questioned family members as to the possibility that he had returned to India.
"We have his passport, his papers, everything," said Nick. "I don't think he could have gone back to India."
Vijay had friends in Monett, but none reported having seen or heard from the young man.
"We didn't know much about his personal life," Nick said. "I don't know if he had a girlfriend. That was private.
"But we did hire a private investigator, and he found nothing."
The Pontiac, with Vijay at the wheel, disappeared and has not been seen since.
"I've checked his Social Security number [periodically], and nothing shows up since March of 1985, when he was working at the restaurant," Nick said.
"We didn't actually get the case until 21 years after the victim disappeared," said Lawrence County Detective Roger Kerr. "This case was initially reported to the Aurora Police Department. They took the initial report and notified the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System (MULES) of Patel's disappearance. But somehow it got kicked out of the system and the file got lost.
"We started way behind the curve on this one."
Lawrence County authorities re-submitted the missing person information to MULES and fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, but thus far, have yet to receive even the slightest hint as to the whereabouts of Vijay Patel.
"We last had contact with the family about a month ago," Kerr said. "They call every now and again to see if we've heard anything."
The Patel family has subsequently moved to Louisville, Kentucky, but Nick said that Vijay could still find them easily.
"We have an uncle in Joplin," he said. "And family and friends in India. If he's OK, he can still find us."
But after 22 years with no contact from his brother, Nick is not sure what to expect.
"Something bad had to have happened," Nick said. "He is my mother's favorite son. He is the oldest. And we're still hoping that he comes home."
Anyone having information on this case may call Kerr at 417- 466-2131.
Copyright 2007, 2008 The Monett Times, All Rights Reserved.
