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David Barnes, Sr.
Barnes, circa 1988 (nine years prior to his disappearance; more recent photos are unavailable)
Case Classification: Endangered Missing / Suspected Homicide
Missing Since: October 1997*** exact date unknown
Location Last Seen: Manhattan, New York County, New York
Description:
- Date of Birth: circa 1927***
- Age: 70 years old***
- Race: Black/African American
- Gender: Male
- Height: 5' 7" (67 inches)
- Weight: 180 lbs
- Hair Color: Brown/Graying/Tied in a ponytail/Mustache and/or beard/goatee
- Eye Color: Gray
- Nickname/Alias: Unknown
- Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
- Clothing & Personal Items: Unknown
- Identifiers: Unknown
- Other: Medical - Authorities believe that Barnes may be disoriented for unspecified reasons.
Circumstances of Disappearance:
Barnes was last seen in the vicinity of the Amsterdam Houses in the New York City borough of Manhattan in October of 1997. He has never been heard from again. At the time of his disappearance, he lived in a three-bedroom apartment in the 2400 block of west 6th Street; he had once been the building superintendent, but had retired.
Barnes had raised his grandson, Matthew Lewis. By 1997, Lewis was estranged from his wife and stepchildren, and Barnes had invited him to move back in with him. A few months later, in October of that year, Barnes stopped contacting his family, and Lewis gave conflicting explanations as to his whereabouts.
In February 1998, Barnes's son went to his apartment to check on him. Lewis told him Barnes was with a girlfriend. Barnes's son didn't believe him and called the police to report his father's disappearance.
In January 2002, Lewis was arrested and charged with his grandfather's murder. Authorities believe he killed Barnes to take over his apartment and steal his pension and Social Security benefits.
At his trial in January 2004, Lewis admitted he'd forged Barnes's name and stolen $27,000 from his checking account, but denied murder. He was convicted of all charges and sentenced to a total of 37 1/2 years to life in prison: 22 1/2 years for the murder, ten years for forgery and five for larceny.
Barnes's body has never been found; investigators believe Lewis dismembered it with a chainsaw and put the remains in a trash bin.
Investigators:
- New York City Police Department - Missing Persons Squad: (212) 694-7781
Reference Case#: KNMP01700
NCIC Case Number: Not available
David Barnes Sr. – The Charley Project
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)
