SC SC - Johnny Lamar Brown, 44, Myrtle Beach, 3 Aug 2012 - #1

[TxLady2]

I don't know how one would go about this, but I sure would like to see some kind of alert system for those who are mentally challenged. They seem to fall through the cracks because they don't qualify as a Silver Alert (at least not here in SC) or anything like an Amber alert. I think they should have their own alert that covers all ages. If such a thing had been in place here maybe Johnny would be home right now.

I agree with you, and I'm not sure we have anything like that here, either. Some of the mentally challenged folks are in group homes, or have people from MHMR checking on them regularly, but some are dependent on family to see after them, and they need outside help. A lot of them are elderly and just not physically well enough to do what they have to do for their loved one.
My heart goes out to Johnny's family because I know they are so worried, but I also worry for Johnny too. How is he getting food to eat, is he finding shelter to sleep in, how is he dealing with the heat? We're having some hot days here in Texas again after a week or two of fairly mild days. It wouldn't be comfortable walking paved streets with nothing to break the hot sun.
I pray that he is safe somewhere and somebody will help him get back home.
To those of you working so diligently to help find him and help his family... you will be blessed!!

 

[MissJames]

I don't know how one would go about this, but I sure would like to see some kind of alert system for those who are mentally challenged. They seem to fall through the cracks because they don't qualify as a Silver Alert (at least not here in SC) or anything like an Amber alert. I think they should have their own alert that covers all ages. If such a thing had been in place here maybe Johnny would be home right now.

I think Johnny did qualify .It's up to the local police to ask for their services .I'd like to see that there is something mandatory or something the family can ask got , themselves.

 

[Nonni Brenda]

Nonni Brenda,

I'm in a similar position .I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis that did a lot of damage before I was finally tested for it . Now I'm immune suppressed from the medications and have had one infection after another .I wish I could do more , myself , but we've become links in a chain .
Summer Breeze started it with the info on Johnny .

I contacted OLG because I knee she was from that area.

BellyUp saw the info and gave us a sighting and a new place to look , talk to people and put up flyers in the area .

NosySw was vacationing in MB , hooked with OLG and got fliers from her .OLG hAd the fliers printed up , herself !

OLG spent a day canvasing the area and following up on a tip at the Conway Soup Kitchen.

Nosysw spent a good portion of her vacation putting up fliers .

Nonni Brenda discovered she lived close to the family and has the bulk of helping them and comforting them .

OLG and I were able to speak to every vendor at the Flea Market while putting up fliers and got one positive sighting and several probable sightings.

While there Peekerfoo called the family , then us , about her sighting in the same general area .Peekerfoo began working with the family and she was the one who contacted CUE .

We have all been links in a chain .I was so ready for more help and especially for a professional SAR group .

This is a rare Missing Person case that can have a wonderful outcome .I hope today is the day !

MissJames, you are so right. I feel so proud to be part of such a great group of people. Each one of you have inspired me to want to do more to help, not just for Johnny, but others on WS who are missing. Tomorrow I am going to start on my list of "to dos" for Johnny. If I can get a few more balls started rolling, then I can take Wed. and Thurs. for my procedure on my kidneys. I think it's call Lipotripsy. Not sure. I know Johnny will be found, safe and sound! I'll also go see the family tomorrow, maybe take some food over. I know they must be extremely tired. Thank you for being such a great example for me...

 

[Nonni Brenda]

I don't know how one would go about this, but I sure would like to see some kind of alert system for those who are mentally challenged. They seem to fall through the cracks because they don't qualify as a Silver Alert (at least not here in SC) or anything like an Amber alert. I think they should have their own alert that covers all ages. If such a thing had been in place here maybe Johnny would be home right now.

Peekerfoo, what a great idea. I wonder how many lives would have already been saved if something like this had already been is place...I wouldn't have any idea how to go about setting this up.:waitasec:

 

[Nonni Brenda]

Nonni Brenda & Miss James,
There was me thinking it was usually us Men that spent their time comparing illnesses/war wounds lol!
Make sure you all keep yourselves in working condition, when Johnny is found we will have to have a cyber party to compare symptoms
keep up the good work and thank you all for the amazing effort you are making!

Right fabgod. We'll have to set up a special thread, we'll call it "War Wounds", perfect title. And I do believe we will be celebrating Johnny being found! Too many sightings for him not to be. Thank you all. Every word said, every thought, and every prayer has been important. Keep on keeping on!

 

[Peekerfoo]

TXlady, I can't stop thinking about what Johnny is going through, and I don't know what's worse--the truth or my imagination.

 

[TxLady2]

TXlady, I can't stop thinking about what Johnny is going through, and I don't know what's worse--the truth or my imagination.

I know... worry is what I do best. But we can't let our imaginations run wild. I want to think that Johnny has found a group of homeless persons, and they are looking out for him, helping him with food and shelter. If he is out there on his own, trying to find his way back home.... well the possibilities just scare me to death!
This may have been said, but I wonder how much money he had on him when he left. Probably just a few dollars. Would he go to a diner or small cafe and ask for something to eat? Sometimes there are kind people who will buy someone like him a meal, but there are some out there that would rob someone for a few dollars, and that's what worries me.
I'm still saying a prayer for him every day that he is found.

 

[Reannan]

Any updates on what the official view of LE is on this case? I am still looking here in Augusta, GA. If I can do anything else, please let me know. I think I will take some fliers by the homeless shelter I am most familiar with.

 

[rachaellouise]

Today could be the day! Positive thoughts.

 

[Reannan]

I was looking back over some of the early news reports, and found this one:

"Captain David Knipes, spokesman for the Myrtle Beach Police Department, reports that Johnny Lamar Brown was last seen on Sunday, August 5 in the area of 21st Avenue South near an ice cream shop with a white female."

Did we already know this???

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/19217838/mbpd-seeks-missing-georgia-man

 

[MissJames]

I was looking back over some of the early news reports, and found this one:

"Captain David Knipes, spokesman for the Myrtle Beach Police Department, reports that Johnny Lamar Brown was last seen on Sunday, August 5 in the area of 21st Avenue South near an ice cream shop with a white female."

Did we already know this???

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/19217838/mbpd-seeks-missing-georgia-man

It was in an earlier interview .I don't think it was a positive sighting , but not sure .
The interview almost made it sound like that's why Johnny went missing .

This family needs big national media attention .There hasn't been a positive sighting in the past week , that I'm aware of .We need all the major news stations to pick this up in a big way .

Does CUE have any national media contacts ?
Johnny could be anywhere of he's caught a ride .

We also need a reward fund but must go through Tricia if we start anything on WS .Anyone know how start something like that ?

Our landline phones have not worked since the big rains .phone company said they were fixed and they're not .
My own Johnny broke my laptop last week .I am so frustrated trying to do everything from my IPhone .We get spoiled easily , here .

I feel like we are running out of time .

 

[watcher9]

Now that Labor Day is over, hopefully the vacationers have headed home which could make it easier to spot Johnny walking around by himself.

 

[Peekerfoo]

I know... worry is what I do best. But we can't let our imaginations run wild. I want to think that Johnny has found a group of homeless persons, and they are looking out for him, helping him with food and shelter. If he is out there on his own, trying to find his way back home.... well the possibilities just scare me to death!
This may have been said, but I wonder how much money he had on him when he left. Probably just a few dollars. Would he go to a diner or small cafe and ask for something to eat? Sometimes there are kind people who will buy someone like him a meal, but there are some out there that would rob someone for a few dollars, and that's what worries me.
I'm still saying a prayer for him every day that he is found.

I am trying to remain positive and perhaps the way you think IS the way it is.

A couple of years ago I wasat the Bojangles having lunch with my little granddaughter and there was a homeless man sitting in the back talking to himself. He looked tired and hot. My GD asked me what was wrong with him and I told her I didn't know, but we were going find a way to help a little bit. I've always impressed upon her that we need to do random acts of kindness, so we went up to the man and asked him if he was hungry. I said, "I am teaching my grandchild to do at least one good deed a day and we'd like to buy you lunch if you haven't eaten." He got tears in his eyes and said he would love to have something to eat. I went to the counter, ordered a huge meal for him, but when I went to pay the manager said "I saw what you did there and this meal is on the house--no charge". So, maybe your vision of the way things might be going for Johnny might not be so farfetched. lease:

 

[Nonni Brenda]

I was looking back over some of the early news reports, and found this one:

"Captain David Knipes, spokesman for the Myrtle Beach Police Department, reports that Johnny Lamar Brown was last seen on Sunday, August 5 in the area of 21st Avenue South near an ice cream shop with a white female."

Did we already know this???

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/19217838/mbpd-seeks-missing-georgia-man

Hi Reannan, Yes, I think this had been talked about previously. If I'm not mistaken, we talked about Johnny being seen with some jeans on that looked like women's jeans and were very tight. Someone said the white woman he had been seen with may have given him some of her clothes.:waitasec: But I could be wrong about that. I just left word for Julie to call me. I'm gonna take some food to the family today so Ms. Ruby won't have to cook. I know they must be exhausted. I also have a list of people to contact locally I want to go over with them: Bartow Baptist Asso, Local newspaper, local radio sation, Atlanta news stations. I'm gonna get the Yellow Pages out and call some Associations and Local Businesses I find there. The worse they can do is say No. Right? Keep the faith everyone. I know Johnny is safe somewhere for now. I just can't believe anything else. lease:

 

[Peekerfoo]

I know... worry is what I do best. But we can't let our imaginations run wild. I want to think that Johnny has found a group of homeless persons, and they are looking out for him, helping him with food and shelter. If he is out there on his own, trying to find his way back home.... well the possibilities just scare me to death!
This may have been said, but I wonder how much money he had on him when he left. Probably just a few dollars. Would he go to a diner or small cafe and ask for something to eat? Sometimes there are kind people who will buy someone like him a meal, but there are some out there that would rob someone for a few dollars, and that's what worries me.
I'm still saying a prayer for him every day that he is found.

Hi Reannan, Yes, I think this had been talked about previously. If I'm not mistaken, we talked about Johnny being seen with some jeans on that looked like women's jeans and were very tight. Someone said the white woman he had been seen with may have given him some of her clothes.:waitasec: But I could be wrong about that. I just left word for Julie to call me. I'm gonna take some food to the family today so Ms. Ruby won't have to cook. I know they must be exhausted. I also have a list of people to contact locally I want to go over with them: Bartow Baptist Asso, Local newspaper, local radio sation, Atlanta news stations. I'm gonna get the Yellow Pages out and call some Associations and Local Businesses I find there. The worse they can do is say No. Right? Keep the faith everyone. I know Johnny is safe somewhere for now. I just can't believe anything else. lease:

You're an angel, Nonni! I hope that Ruby and her husband decided to go back to GA with Julie. I hated to think of them alone in a motel roon in MB with no transportation. I do think that some local fundraisers could be beneficial--perhaps to help fund a reward. The media, all over the south, could be the best tool that the family could use. Truckers could be helpful, too.

 

[Nonni Brenda]

Peekerfoo, you made me cry... What a kind comapssionate person you are. And what a wonderful lesson for your granddaughter. I'm sure she will carry that throughout her life. There's no telling how many lives she will touch because of what she saw you do that day. Then...she will pass it on to her children...
I have to believe in Karma. No kindness is ever wasted. My family and I were having a conversation a few weeks ago about giving to people standing on the roads with their signs pleading for money. Although one of my "know-it-all" teenage grandsons told us about the stories he's heard about some of these people making hundreds of thousand every year (in my opinion, not likely), the consensus was that is not to be our judgement. Being a Christian family, we pulled out our Bibles to get the answer. We read the story about the Good Samaritan. It is not up to us to judge the motives of someone lying sick and tired and in need. My opinion God will handle that person and his motives. I know others may have differing ideas on this subject, so I'll just add MOO. And even if you do feed a stranger, and he really doesn't need the help, Others who witness this, such as your granddaughter, may save many lives down the road because of the lesson she learned from you on that particular day. And you will be blessed again and again. I am so happy to know you.

 

[Peekerfoo]

Peekerfoo, you made me cry... What a kind comapssionate person you are. And what a wonderful lesson for your granddaughter. I'm sure she will carry that throughout her life. There's no telling how many lives she will touch because of what she saw you do that day. Then...she will pass it on to her children...
I have to believe in Karma. No kindness is ever wasted. My family and I were having a conversation a few weeks ago about giving to people standing on the roads with their signs pleading for money. Although one of my "know-it-all" teenage grandsons told us about the stories he's heard about some of these people making hundreds of thousand every year (in my opinion, not likely), the consensus was that is not to be our judgement. Being a Christian family, we pulled out our Bibles to get the answer. We read the story about the Good Samaritan. It is not up to us to judge the motives of someone lying sick and tired and in need. My opinion God will handle that person and his motives. I know others may have differing ideas on this subject, so I'll just add MOO. And even if you do feed a stranger, and he really doesn't need the help, Others who witness this, such as your granddaughter, may save many lives down the road because of the lesson she learned from you on that particular day. And you will be blessed again and again. I am so happy to know you.

Gosh, now you're making me cry. Thank you for the kind words.
I will share a quick funny story with you about the homeless on street with the signs. I raised my children the same way I am teaching my GD. One cold afternoon I was driving my kids (who were actually kids then ) home from school and we saw a man on the corner with a sign that said "Will work for food". I asked my children what they thought we should do and they said, "Let's get him some McDonalds food!". I agreed, so we stopped and got him a big meal with a nice hot coffeee, turned around, and dropped it off to him. That man looked so angry that we brought him food! My children were confused as he set it down and covered it with his backpack! He never said thank you. I told my kids that I think we just ruined his gig for making money for "food". Would I do it again? Sure, but that was certainly a lesson of a different kind! I refused to let that man discourage me or my children from trying to help others.

I take my GD with me to the Assisted Living facilty where my Mom lives and she calls it doing her "volunteer work". She's a big hit over there and some of the ladies have "adopted" her as their own. One lady has a picture of her on her walker.

I also believe that what goes around, comes around. My mom used to say, "Whatever you put into the lives of others comes back into your own". I have never forgotten that.

 

[Nonni Brenda]

is this the FB or is there another one?
http://www.facebook.com/HelpingTheJohnnyLamarBrownsFamily

I am still appalled that police would drive and leave someone that obviously had special needs- good grief they could have held him locally in some fashion while ascertaining his situation.

That's the only one I know of. Thanks.

 

[Nonni Brenda]

Gosh, now you're making me cry. Thank you for the kind words.
I will share a quick funny story with you about the homeless on street with the signs. I raised my children the same way I am teaching my GD. One cold afternoon I was driving my kids (who were actually kids then ) home from school and we saw a man on the corner with a sign that said "Will work for food". I asked my children what they thought we should do and they said, "Let's get him some McDonalds food!". I agreed, so we stopped and got him a big meal with a nice hot coffeee, turned around, and dropped it off to him. That man looked so angry that we brought him food! My children were confused as he set it down and covered it with his backpack! He never said thank you. I told my kids that I think we just ruined his gig for making money for "food". Would I do it again? Sure, but that was certainly a lesson of a different kind! I refused to let that man discourage me or my children from trying to help others.

I take my GD with me to the Assisted Living facilty where my Mom lives and she calls it doing her "volunteer work". She's a big hit over there and some of the ladies have "adopted" her as their own. One lady has a picture of her on her walker.

I also believe that what goes around, comes around. My mom used to say, "Whatever you put into the lives of others comes back into your own". I have never forgotten that.

You're so right, Peek. Seems we have the same ideas about a lot. My mom is in a nursing home. My granddaughter, age 15, goes with me to visit too.The other ladies there have adopted us! My GD takes friends sometimes and they sing for them. Occassionally we'll take treats for them. Have to be careful with sugar treats, some are diabetics. I always take some sugar-free treats. I love going over there.

Just to give an update on my progress for today. I spoke with people in newsrooms for WSB-TV, Fox5, and 11Alive all in Atlanta, and the will run Johnny's story. I stressed the need to tell about special needs, Mentally handicapped, as well as severe speech impediment. I also asked they say something about Johnny may be working his way back home, or even to Atlanta, telling them about the bus driver saying he wanted to go to Atlanta. I have also spoken with WBHF radio station, Cartersville' s one and only radio station afaik. I called the local newspaper in Cartersville, and someone is going to call me back from there. I also left word at the Bartow Baptist Association for a callback. I probably won't have time today or tomorrow, but I want to get flyers to the truck stops around here. There is one on I 75 about 20 mi. north, and another one on I 75 about 10 mi. South. I left word for Julia about 3 hrs ago, but haven't heard from her. I'm gonna call Rev. Brown and ask if I can bring them some food over.

I have just discovered my kidney procedure is tomorrow not Thurs has I had originally thought. UGH. I'm not especially looking forward to that, but just want to get it over with. I'll post again b4 I go to bed tonight with updates on the above. Keep the faith! He's out there somewhere...

 

[Oriah]

Now that Labor Day is over, hopefully the vacationers have headed home which could make it easier to spot Johnny walking around by himself.

Yes. At the very least, it reduces the burden on LE- so hopefully they will have more time to devote to open cases.

ETA: got in touch with food banks. Awareness now in place. Grand Strand one was particularly awesome.

I'm wondering (regarding the Atlanta issue) is there something in particular that Johnny expressed interest in doing on vacation? Such as going to a zoo, an amusment park, a show- that sort of thing? I wonder if it is possible he sort of set out on his 'own' vacation because he wanted to do something that wasn't able to be part of his family plans?