SC SC - Brian Keith Awalt, 29, Spartanburg, 12 July 1991

ChatteringBirds

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2019
Messages
12,337
Reaction score
63,520
  • #1
This missing person's case from 1991 was just added to NamUs.


Thumbnail.png

Missing Person / NamUs #MP123863
Brian Keith Awalt
Male, White / Caucasian
Date of Last Contact: July 12, 1991
Missing From: Spartanburg, South Carolina
Missing Age: 29 Years
Current Age: 62 Years
Height: 5' 11" (71 Inches)
Weight: 160 lbs
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Blue

Circumstances of Disappearance:
Left his apartment and got in a van with an unknown subject. He has not been seen since.
 
  • #2
This article from GoUpstate provides a lot more information. I bolded what I think is most important.

Family fears missing dad in trouble​


Staff Writer
Herald-Journal
Published 11:01 p.m. ET Jan. 3, 1992 | Updated 11:00 p.m. ET Jan. 3, 1992

The family of Brian Keith Awalt is sure something bad has happened to him since he disappeared nearly six months ago, because, they say, the Spartanburg man has everything to come home for. His mother and common-law wife Awalt
describe Awalt as a hard-working breadwinner who provided for his family, loved special occasions and cherished his baby girl, who was 3 months old when her father disappeared July 12.

Since he was last seen, Awalt has turned 30, the holiday season has come and gone, and his only daughter has started walking. Those closest to him can't imagine him not calling home if he had anyway to reach a phone. "I feel positive something isn't right," said his mother, Nan Penketh. "If he was well and everything was all right, he would definitely have called home by now."

Awalt and his common-law wife, Teresa K. Longshore, 37, lived at B-2 Woodside Apartments on Fernwood-Glendale Road. They've been together for five years and have a 9-month-old daughter, Jessica Breanne Awalt. Breanne is a feminine form of Brian that Awalt invented, Ms. Longshore said.

Awalt was reported missing to the Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office on Aug. 15, sheriff's spokesman Mike Little said. Awalt was last seen about 2 p.m. on July 12. That day, he sold plasma at a local plasma center, then left his house with a strange man, Little said. "We don't have anything to go on as far as foul play is concerned, but because of the length of time he's been missing, there is a possibility that foul play might be involved," the sheriff's spokesman said.

The last person who saw Awalt was 17-year-old Brian Bryson. Bryson lived in Woodside Apartments at that time. He said he had never seen the man whom Awalt left with that day. "He was real scraggly-looking and unkempt," Bryson said. "He had long hair and looked like a hippie. But Brian didn't seem like anything was wrong. He was jovial and seemed happy. He got in the man's car and they drove off."

Ms. Longshore said Awalt didn't take any clothes with him when he left, and he didn't have any money other than the money he made selling plasma that day. He had just been laid off from his job at Metal Builders and was working odd jobs to support the family. "He idolized our baby," Ms. Longshore said. "He begged for her for three years. He desperately wanted a girl. He wouldn't even leave her with his own mother because he couldn't bear to be away from her. "His birthday is on Oct. 17, and mine is Oct. 15. We always celebrated them together. It's always been a joyous time. We even thought about getting married on Oct. 16, so all the dates would be together," Ms. Longshore said.

Awalt is 5 feet 11, and at the time of his disappearance he weighed about 160 pounds and had a moustache. He has blue eyes and light-brown hair. He has a two-inch scar on his upper left arm and a scar on the right side of his face under his eye. Anyone with information about Awalt is asked to call the sheriff's office.
 
  • #3
Impressed that you found an article from 1992.
Too bad there isn't more -- description of the vehicle, for example. He had to have known the man he left with somehow, perhaps from a previous social circle or job?
 
  • #4
There are a few "John Does" I wonder about. I have only looked at South Carolina (in case someone has time to look at nearby states). Not perfect matches but worth a consideration, IMO.

PMI is 1994 at the absolute earliest, but could it be wrong? There is a sketch...

There is not enough information to go on. Maybe if they could compare DNA?

Height and age don't quite match:
 
  • #5
Impressed that you found an article from 1992.
Thank you!! I can't believe I found it either!
Too bad there isn't more -- description of the vehicle, for example. He had to have known the man he left with somehow, perhaps from a previous social circle or job?
I tend to agree but I concede that maybe Brian didn't know him at all.

According to the article, Brian recently got laid off and was working odd jobs to make ends meet. Someone on one of those odd jobs could've suggested that man to Brian for work. So Brian left with the man "jovial" and "happy," not because he knew him, but because he thought he'd found another odd job.

Alternatively, Brian could've found the man through a newspaper ad. In this scenario, though, we would unfortunately have no way of backtracking this if Brian didn't tell anyone he was looking through the classifieds for more work.
 
  • #6
SEP 4, 2024
[...]

According to the sheriff’s office, Brian Keith Awalt, also known as Sunshine, was last seen getting into a car with a unknown person at an apartment on Fernwood Glendale Road. ...

... At the time of his disappearance, Awalt was living with a woman and her 16-year-old son. The son was the last person to see Awalt.

Brian Keith Awalt

Brian Keith Awalt(Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office)

[...]

The sheriff’s office mentioned that Awalt was working for Associated Contractors at the time of his disappearance and liked to hang out in bars in the Clifton, Glendale, and Hillcrest areas of Spartanburg County.

The former girlfriend’s son was able to give such a detailed description of the man he saw Awalt leaving the apartment complex with that the sheriff’s office said they asked him to sit down with a forensic artist to complete a sketch:

Age progression sketch of man last seen with Awalt

Age progression sketch of man last seen with Awalt(Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office)

[...]
 
  • #7
Hmmm ... that sketch of person he was with (on the left) looks quite similar to the photo on the right of Mr. Awalt.
 
  • #8
Sep 4, 2024
Cold case breakthrough: Detailed sketch released in decades-old Spartanburg County mystery
 
  • #9

Brian Keith Awalt​

awalt_brian.jpg
awalt_brian2.jpg
awalt_brian3.jpg

awalt_brian_sketch.jpg
awalt_brian_sketch2.jpg

Awalt, circa 1991
  • Missing Since 07/12/1991
  • Missing From Spartanburg, South Carolina
  • Classification Endangered Missing
  • Sex Male
  • Race White
  • Date of Birth 10/17/1961 (62)
  • Age 29 years old
  • Height and Weight 5'11, 160 pounds
  • Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Light brown hair, blue eyes. Awalt's nickname is Sunshine. He has a two-inch scar on his upper left arm and a scar on the right side of his face below his eye. He had a blond mustache at the time of his disappearance, and his hair was long.

Details of Disappearance​

Awalt was last seen in Spartanburg, South Carolina at 2:00 p.m. on July 12, 1991, at the apartment complex where he lived in the 1600 block of Fernwood Glendale Road. He got into a car with an unidentified white man and has never been heard from again. He was reported missing on August 15.

A sketch of the man he was last seen with, and an age-progression of that sketch, is posted with this case summary. He has never been identified and is considered a person of interest in Awalt's case. He had an unkempt appearance and long hair.

Awalt did not take any clothes with him when he left, and he didn't have any cash on him other than what he had made selling plasma earlier on the day of his disappearance. He had recently been laid off from his job and was working odd jobs to help support his family.

At the time of his disappearance, Awalt lived with his common-law wife and her teenage son; the son was the last person to see him. Awalt and his wife had been together for five years and she had recently given birth to his daughter. He frequented bars in the Clifton, Glendale and Hillcrest areas. Although there is no direct evidence of foul play in his case, authorities think it's possible due to the length of time he's been missing.

Last updated September 5, 2024; casefile added.​

 
  • #10
Screenshot 2024-09-12 at 8.06.05 PM.png

Brian has been ruled out as a match to Waynesville John Doe 2004.
 
  • #11
Brian Keith Awalt was reported missing on 8-15-1991. He was last seen getting into a car with Johnny Ray Bruce on 7-12-1991. Brian and Johnny was known to travel from SC to FL stopping at rest stops and robbing men. Johnny Ray Bruce is a person of interest in the disappearance of Brian Awalt. Johnny Ray Bruce died on 3-18-2019 in Gainsville, GA. If anyone knew Brian Awalt or Johnny Ray Bruce or knows anything about this missing person case please contact Sgt Tony Brown, Cold Case Unit, Spartanburg Co Sheriff's Office, SC 864-503-4556, [email protected]. Case number #91080020.
 

Attachments

  • Brian Awalt pic 2.webp
    Brian Awalt pic 2.webp
    14.8 KB · Views: 8
  • Brian Awalt Pic.webp
    Brian Awalt Pic.webp
    10.4 KB · Views: 8
  • Johnny Bruce 3.webp
    Johnny Bruce 3.webp
    8.3 KB · Views: 8
  • #12
I will get to work on this.
 
  • #13
Article - Jan 1992
Those closest to him can't imagine him not calling home if he had anyway to reach a phone. "I feel positive something isn't right," said his mother, Nan Penketh. "If he was well and everything was all right, he would definitely have called home by now."
(…)
Awalt was last seen about 2 p.m. on July 12. That day, he sold plasma at a local plasma center, then left his house with a strange man, Little said. "
(…)
Ms. Longshore said Awalt didn't take any clothes with him when he left, and he didn't have any money other than the money he made selling plasma that day. He had just been laid off from his job at Metal Builders and was working odd jobs to support the family. "He idolized our baby," Ms. Longshore said. "He begged for her for three years. He desperately wanted a girl. He wouldn't even leave her with his own mother because he couldn't bear to be away from her.

Article - Jun 1992
 
  • #14
known to travel from SC to FL stopping at rest stops

If true, he could easily be a John Doe in a lot of different states. We should look at the entire south-eastern U.S.
Hopefully one day the right tip or, more likely, DNA result will solve this case. JMO.
 
  • #15
Good finds on the original articles! If not for his baby daughter I could see him voluntarily avoiding possible upcoming prison time, however, I don't personally see him leaving a child he loved that much. Given the number of DUI's, in my opinion, it's more likely he met with an accident while driving but the report of the common law wife's son being the only person to see him leave, with a physical description of the person he left with looking very much (IMO) like the missing man itself, just with longer hair raises it's own red flag to me.

But as far as just facts, here's what I found.

He may well have other court records in other counties
(I only checked Spartanburg and immediately adjacent counties as well as PA where he is said to have lived at one point) as one of his more recent charges before he went missing was his 4th DUI (Case No. 07739MT) and there was only one other DUI on record in Spartanburg County. Interesting note: The case for the 4th (or subsequent) DUI was dismissed due to lack of indictment in 2004 well AFTER he went missing. Had the court found him guilty of this charge he was looking at 1-5 years of prison time and permanent revocation of his driver’s license for a fourth or subsequent offense.
(S.C. Code of Laws Sections 56-5-2930, 56-5-2940, 56-5-2950, 56-5-2990, 56-5-6240)

The State of South Carolina VS Brian Keith Awalt
Case Number: 07740MT Filed Date: 08/04/1989
Case Type: Criminal
Status: Disposed Disposition: Pled Guilty
Disposition Date: 06/06/1991 Date Received: 08/04/1989 Arrest Date: 06/21/1989
Awalt, Brian Keith 0174-DUS / Driving under suspension, license not suspended for DUI - 2nd offense
Sentencing: ROB AA 1ST WEEK
60 DY SUS TIME SERVED + 1 YR P

The State of South Carolina VS Brian Keith Awalt
Case Number: 07739MT Filed Date: 05/05/1989
Case Type: Criminal-Clerk
Status: Disposition: Dismisssed Not Indicted Disposition Date: 11/11/2004 Arrest Date: 04/21/1989
Indictment Number: 1989GS4202629
Awalt, Brian Keith 0165-DUI / Driving under influence - 4th or sub. offense
Case Restore Date GS Filing 11/10/2004

The State of South Carolina VS Brian Keith Awalt
Case Number: B842735 Filed Date: 07/09/1987
Case Type: Criminal-Clerk
Status: Disposed Disposition: Pled Guilty
Disposition Date: 07/14/1987 Arrest Date: 04/18/1987
Awalt, Brian Keith 0326-Resisting / Resisting Arrest, Oppose, resist, or assault law enforcement officer serving process 07/14/1987

The State of South Carolina VS Brian Keith Awalt
Case Number: B743245 Filed Date: 01/08/1987
Case Type: Criminal-Clerk Case Sub Type:
Status: Disposed Disposition: Pled Guilty Disposition Date: 01/14/1987 Arrest Date: 11/24/1986
Awalt, Brian Keith 0326-Resisting / Resisting Arrest, Oppose, resist, or assault law enforcement officer serving process
Sentencing: 1 YR SUSP 15D PS & 2 YRS PROB

The State of South Carolina VS Brian Keith Awalt
Case Number: 00583EA Filed Date: 03/08/1984
Case Type: Criminal- Status: Disposed Disposition: Pled Guilty
Disposition Date: 03/12/1984 Arrest Date: 12/10/1983
Awalt, Brian Keith 0163-DUI / Driving under the influence - 2nd offense
Sentencing: 0 & 1 YR PROB.
1 YR & $1000 SUSP 48 HRS & $25

Court record synopsis from: https://publicindex.sccourts.org/Union/PublicIndex/PISearch.aspx
 

Staff online

Members online

Online statistics

Members online
68
Guests online
2,619
Total visitors
2,687

Forum statistics

Threads
632,535
Messages
18,628,042
Members
243,185
Latest member
TheMultiLucy☮️
Back
Top