SC SC - Johnny Lamar Brown, 44, Myrtle Beach, 3 Aug 2012 - #2

[Peekerfoo]

Does anyone ever think that it's possible that he's a "run away"? I mean if we were discussing a teenager, even one with special needs, would that not enter our minds? Is that the reason there isn't much urgency? He is 44, after all, and not in anyone's legal custody (as far as I know)so is it possible that when he saw a chance to run he did? Maybe that's why they kept the wallet in the hotel, thinking he wouldn't or couldn't go far without it? Maybe he was upset about something or just wanted to try life on his own. It still puts him at risk, but there has to be a reason why there doesn't seem to be a sense of panic. Perhaps he missed his dog and wanted to get back to Blackie? I am in NO WAY bashing the family because his reasons could have been as simple as that. This is purely speculation on my part. I am trying to look at this from different angles, as I've seen done many times here at WS. I've seen everyone and everything looked at in these types of cases.

I believe that when Johnny is found it will be a direct result of something someone here at WS did. Whether it's a song, a flyer, a phonecall, an e-mail, a FB post,a post here with good advice, driving to work a different way, or whatever else has been done on this thread by WSers. I really believe that.

We don't have much to work with right now, but the family is supposed to return to MB soon. Maybe then there will be an update from LE in the local press and we can post that. I'll continue what I've been doing, but I won't bore you with the details unless I get a response from someone that I've contacted.

I honestly feel that we have all done more than what is expected of the average citizen in this case and we can rest assured that, no matter what, WE TRIED. We certainly TRIED. I admire all of you for that.

I don't blame anyone for moving on to other cases. We have too many questions here and not enough answers. That's just how it is and we have to make our own decisions about where we can do the most good. There's no shame in that....

 

[Nonni Brenda]

:blushing:Just wondering,......how long is an hour in the USA?

:giggle:

 

[fabgod]

Well, we've seemingly hit the wall again.
We are stuck without any information, all the help that is on offer from W/S members is going to waste.
It's an odd situation IMO, when there are people out there offering to help, with no other reasons than caring for another person who is seemingly in a less fortunate position than themselves.

I/ we know, just how much, certain members have done to try and help find Johnny, nobody could have asked any more of you and for that you deserve so much credit.
Everybody on the thread has supported, nobody has been anything but helpful and caring and you are all a credit to humanity.

If JazzyJulie does come here needing help, I am sure we would all do whatever we could to assist, if she doesn't, at least we have tried and gone way beyond what would normally be expected.

If Johnny is still missing, I hope he is okay, I hope that if he wants to get back to Cartersville, that he makes it.
With a little more information at the right time, I reckon we could have cracked this and found Johnny, but without that information and honesty, I think we did a damn good job,
Julie, we are still here, still care and still hope
Fab

 

[TxLady2]

It's so sad to see the interest waning with just a handful of posts every day.
Yes, you all did try, you did everything you could do and you put your best efforts into finding him. None of you have anything to regret, except that Johnny is still out there.

My heart and my prayers go out to his family, especially to his parents. I wish there was something I could do.

 

[nosysw]

Does anyone ever think that it's possible that he's a "run away"? I mean if we were discussing a teenager, even one with special needs, would that not enter our minds? Is that the reason there isn't much urgency? He is 44, after all, and not in anyone's legal custody (as far as I know)so is it possible that when he saw a chance to run he did? Maybe that's why they kept the wallet in the hotel, thinking he wouldn't or couldn't go far without it? Maybe he was upset about something or just wanted to try life on his own. It still puts him at risk, but there has to be a reason why there doesn't seem to be a sense of panic. Perhaps he missed his dog and wanted to get back to Blackie? I am in NO WAY bashing the family[/B] because his reasons could have been as simple as that. This is purely speculation on my part. I am trying to look at this from different angles, as I've seen done many times here at WS. I've seen everyone and everything looked at in these types of cases.

I believe that when Johnny is found it will be a direct result of something someone here at WS did. Whether it's a song, a flyer, a phonecall, an e-mail, a FB post,a post here with good advice, driving to work a different way, or whatever else has been done on this thread by WSers. I really believe that.

We don't have much to work with right now, but the family is supposed to return to MB soon. Maybe then there will be an update from LE in the local press and we can post that. I'll continue what I've been doing, but I won't bore you with the details unless I get a response from someone that I've contacted.

I honestly feel that we have all done more than what is expected of the average citizen in this case and we can rest assured that, no matter what, WE TRIED. We certainly TRIED. I admire all of you for that.

I don't blame anyone for moving on to other cases. We have too many questions here and not enough answers. That's just how it is and we have to make our own decisions about where we can do the most good. There's no shame in that....

I do think he may have gone off on his own on purpose possibly after some kind of argument and that's the missing piece. But, if that is the case, wouldn't it be more helpful to know than not know? I think a lot of kids run away after an argument and, of course, that's something that can be guilt inducing for the parents, but it is needed information for an appropriate investigation. And, I agree, he is an adult so it would not be the case that he would be forced to go back, in theory, although I'm sure the family could exert any number of different power plays to make that happen if he was resistant. The reason I think it may have been about the argument is that one of the stories, I believe, the family told earlier was that he and Julie were walking toward the restaurant talking, and then he just went the other way while she went to the restaurant. That has always stuck in my craw (so I hope I'm remembering it correctly).

But, then he supposedly tried to call home, was successful but we don't know what that phone call was about, just that he spoke to a "younger relative", and then tried to call again. That makes it seem that however he became lost, at least at some point, he tried to be found. Did he change his mind later? Meet a woman and start having a relationship? Meet some party "friends" and lose the motivation to find his way home? Decide his family hasn't come and found him so they don't care? It seems if he really wanted to get home he wouldn't have stopped trying so that is perplexing. He surely would have been able to communicate his plight to someone by now if he really wanted to, right?

Re: section BBM above: I agree 100%.

 

[Peekerfoo]

Well, we've seemingly hit the wall again.
We are stuck without any information, all the help that is on offer from W/S members is going to waste.
It's an odd situation IMO, when there are people out there offering to help, with no other reasons than caring for another person who is seemingly in a less fortunate position than themselves.

I/ we know, just how much, certain members have done to try and help find Johnny, nobody could have asked any more of you and for that you deserve so much credit.
Everybody on the thread has supported, nobody has been anything but helpful and caring and you are all a credit to humanity.

If JazzyJulie does come here needing help, I am sure we would all do whatever we could to assist, if she doesn't, at least we have tried and gone way beyond what would normally be expected.

If Johnny is still missing, I hope he is okay, I hope that if he wants to get back to Cartersville, that he makes it.
With a little more information at the right time, I reckon we could have cracked this and found Johnny, but without that information and honesty, I think we did a damn good job,
Julie, we are still here, still care and still hope
Fab

Well said and I completely agree!

 

[MissJames]

Does anyone ever think that it's possible that he's a "run away"? I mean if we were discussing a teenager, even one with special needs, would that not enter our minds? Is that the reason there isn't much urgency? He is 44, after all, and not in anyone's legal custody (as far as I know)so is it possible that when he saw a chance to run he did? Maybe that's why they kept the wallet in the hotel, thinking he wouldn't or couldn't go far without it? Maybe he was upset about something or just wanted to try life on his own. It still puts him at risk, but there has to be a reason why there doesn't seem to be a sense of panic. Perhaps he missed his dog and wanted to get back to Blackie? I am in NO WAY bashing the family because his reasons could have been as simple as that. This is purely speculation on my part. I am trying to look at this from different angles, as I've seen done many times here at WS. I've seen everyone and everything looked at in these types of cases.

I believe that when Johnny is found it will be a direct result of something someone here at WS did. Whether it's a song, a flyer, a phonecall, an e-mail, a FB post,a post here with good advice, driving to work a different way, or whatever else has been done on this thread by WSers. I really believe that.

We don't have much to work with right now, but the family is supposed to return to MB soon. Maybe then there will be an update from LE in the local press and we can post that. I'll continue what I've been doing, but I won't bore you with the details unless I get a response from someone that I've contacted.

I honestly feel that we have all done more than what is expected of the average citizen in this case and we can rest assured that, no matter what, WE TRIED. We certainly TRIED. I admire all of you for that.

I don't blame anyone for moving on to other cases. We have too many questions here and not enough answers. That's just how it is and we have to make our own decisions about where we can do the most good. There's no shame in that....

IIRC it was reported the family believed Johnny might have been trying to go home .I read that before I knew he was going to Family Kingdom by himself ,which really changed the story in my mind.
Now I don't know what to think. Hard to believe LE doesn't have a sense of where he might be . I've always felt they know something we don't know. LE followed up on some of those first sightings .Maybe they learned Johnny was where he wanted to be .
I don't regret becoming involved .We all did our best with what info we had . Now it's clear to me that we didn't have all the info,and still don't ,so here we sit.
I feel bad for Johnny and his parents ,but it is time to help others if we can. The family knows how to reach us if they want our help.

Yesterday I had a long wait at the airport and saw a story on HLN I want to follow up on. I hope WS has a thread on it .
An 18 year old was found at an LA bus station ,believed to be a young child because he was so malnourished. His family had kept him locked up in their (GA? ) East Coast home for years .He suffered terrible abuse .When he turned 18 his father took I'm to a bus station with money for a ticket and a list of homeless shelters .I need to find out the details since it was so loud in the airport but what a horrific and strange story.

 

[Peekerfoo]

I do think he may have gone off on his own on purpose possibly after some kind of argument and that's the missing piece. But, if that is the case, wouldn't it be more helpful to know than not know? I think a lot of kids run away after an argument and, of course, that's something that can be guilt inducing for the parents, but it is needed information for an appropriate investigation. And, I agree, he is an adult so it would not be the case that he would be forced to go back, in theory, although I'm sure the family could exert any number of different power plays to make that happen if he was resistant. The reason I think it may have been about the argument is that one of the stories, I believe, the family told earlier was that he and Julie were walking toward the restaurant talking, and then he just went the other way while she went to the restaurant. That has always stuck in my craw (so I hope I'm remembering it correctly).

But, then he supposedly tried to call home, was successful but we don't know what that phone call was about, just that he spoke to a "younger relative", and then tried to call again. That makes it seem that however he became lost, at least at some point, he tried to be found. Did he change his mind later? Meet a woman and start having a relationship? Meet some party "friends" and lose the motivation to find his way home? Decide his family hasn't come and found him so they don't care? It seems if he really wanted to get home he wouldn't have stopped trying so that is perplexing. He surely would have been able to communicate his plight to someone by now if he really wanted to, right?

Re: section BBM above: I agree 100%.

It's always stuck in my mind that Johnny was in the cab heading towards Georgetown County, where he somehow met up with G-town LE. I think he was trying to get home from the start. I believe there was miscommunication with the cab driver and he thought Johnny was saying gerogetown, but instead he was saying Georgia.

It may not even have been an argument that caused him to go his own way (though I believe that's a real possibility). Maybe he didn't like Myrtle Beach because it was all too confusing for him and he just wanted to return home to his dog and normal routine. He'd never been away from home before, so maybe he just wanted to get back there. Since he had never been away before, his family might not have known how he'd react to all the confusion that was involved in being in Myrtle Beach. He might have slept on the way here and not realized how far away it is from Cartersville.

I feel that the answers lie in the last moments that he was seen by family members. What was his mood? Had he asked to go back home? Did he like it here? Was there any kind of disagreement? Again, more questions.

I'm praying that he's in a homeless shelter where they haven't checked his status on NamUs or NCIC yet. Someone HAS to have seen him since the last sightings in Surfside. I think he's trying to get back where he feels comfortable and I hope he makes it.

 

[TxLady2]

It's always stuck in my mind that Johnny was in the cab heading towards Georgetown County, where he somehow met up with G-town LE. I think he was trying to get home from the start. I believe there was miscommunication with the cab driver and he thought Johnny was saying gerogetown, but instead he was saying Georgia.

It may not even have been an argument that caused him to go his own way (though I believe that's a real possibility). Maybe he didn't like Myrtle Beach because it was all too confusing for him and he just wanted to return home to his dog and normal routine. He'd never been away from home before, so maybe he just wanted to get back there. Since he had never been away before, his family might not have known how he'd react to all the confusion that was involved in being in Myrtle Beach. He might have slept on the way here and not realized how far away it is from Cartersville.

I feel that the answers lie in the last moments that he was seen by family members. What was his mood? Had he asked to go back home? Did he like it here? Was there any kind of disagreement? Again, more questions.

I'm praying that he's in a homeless shelter where they haven't checked his status on NamUs or NCIC yet. Someone HAS to have seen him since the last sightings in Surfside. I think he's trying to get back where he feels comfortable and I hope he makes it.

I've wondered about this. I believe I asked way back in the first thread why he was capable of going to the amusement park by himself, in a strange city.
It's possible that he's always had some freedom to roam around, but that was in his hometown, where people knew him. How would it affect someone like him in a strange town? Would he be frightened? Maybe he would enjoy that freedom for a day or two, but without regular meals, and a nice, warm bed, I bet he is wanting to go home.

Yes, he is an adult... in age. But is it possible that his parents are also his legal guardians because of his mental status?

I am so worried, and I can't help it.. he has grabbed a piece of my heart. I want him to be found NOW!

 

[MissJames]

I've wondered about this. I believe I asked way back in the first thread why he was capable of going to the amusement park by himself, in a strange city.
It's possible that he's always had some freedom to roam around, but that was in his hometown, where people knew him. How would it affect someone like him in a strange town? Would he be frightened? Maybe he would enjoy that freedom for a day or two, but without regular meals, and a nice, warm bed, I bet he is wanting to go home.

Yes, he is an adult... in age. But is it possible that his parents are also his legal guardians because of his mental status?

I am so worried, and I can't help it.. he has grabbed a piece of my heart. I want him to be found NOW!

Me too,TxLady2.
When I look at his ID photo and the photo of Johnny standing next to the car ,I don't see a 44 year old man. I thought we had a real chance of finding Johnny when I first read about him. I believed it was a simple case of a special needs person wandering off .I saw a family that needed help and since I lived close to MB and have my own special needs son,I reached out.
It's just not that simple ,though. Lesson learned.

 

[TxLady2]

Me too,TxLady2.
When I look at his ID photo and the photo of Johnny standing next to the car ,I don't see a 44 year old man. I thought we had a real chance of finding Johnny when I first read about him. I believed it was a simple case of a special needs person wandering off .I saw a family that needed help and since I lived close to MB and have my own special needs son,I reached out.
It's just not that simple ,though. Lesson learned.

He does look younger than 44, doesn't he?
Don't feel bad, MissJames. You did what your heart told you to do, and what you knew was the right thing. Sometimes when we reach out a helping hand, we get it bitten a little bit. But that won't stop most people from reaching out their hand again... and again. And sooner or later, someone will take that hand and then give you their other hand and you're holding on to each other, and you know in your heart that you helped somehow.
I know you care, and everyone else here cares too. I'll just keep praying for Johnny... it's all I can do.

 

[Nonni Brenda]

IIRC it was reported the family believed Johnny might have been trying to go home .I read that before I knew he was going to Family Kingdom by himself ,which really changed the story in my mind.
Now I don't know what to think. Hard to believe LE doesn't have a sense of where he might be . I've always felt they know something we don't know. LE followed up on some of those first sightings .Maybe they learned Johnny was where he wanted to be .
I don't regret becoming involved .We all did our best with what info we had . Now it's clear to me that we didn't have all the info,and still don't ,so here we sit.
I feel bad for Johnny and his parents ,but it is time to help others if we can. The family knows how to reach us if they want our help.

Yesterday I had a long wait at the airport and saw a story on HLN I want to follow up on. I hope WS has a thread on it .
An 18 year old was found at an LA bus station ,believed to be a young child because he was so malnourished. His family had kept him locked up in their (GA? ) East Coast home for years .He suffered terrible abuse .When he turned 18 his father took I'm to a bus station with money for a ticket and a list of homeless shelters .I need to find out the details since it was so loud in the airport but what a horrific and strange story.

I believe that is the same story I saw on the news. I think he had 2 sisters, also living in the same house, but had not seen him in years. My memory is terrible, so I'm not sure about details. Can't remember the city, but I also think it was in Ga. I was cooking dinner and didn't really give full attention to the story. Wish I could remember. May have been on Friday.:waitasec:

 

[watcher9]

We have a thread for the boy from GA who only weighs 87 pounds.
I don't know if this is the only thread because there are only three posts in it.
It's under Crimes-Spotlight on Children. This link should get you there.

Police to search home of Ga. teen found in L.A./Parents arrested - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

 

[carole]

We have a thread for the boy from GA who only weighs 87 pounds.
I don't know if this is the only thread because there are only three posts in it.
It's under Crimes-Spotlight on Children. This link should get you there.

Police to search home of Ga. teen found in L.A./Parents arrested - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

This is another thread about Mitch Comer --

GA boy abused/held hostage in home, given bus ticket/$200 told to leave --
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=185317&highlight=Mitch+Comer

 

[Indy Anna]

I really doubt that Johnny wants to be separated from his family, especially knowing this was his first visit to MB. I was thinking it was an annual vacation. I've worked with people who have disabilities, including speech impediments, and many of them get frustrated when they're not able to communicate effectively. Often, the person they try communicating with, unless familiar with them, gets annoyed. A few years ago when I went outside to check the mailbox at work, a man walking down the street stopped and asked me directions to a nearby business. He had a severe speech impediment, but I was able to understand him well enough to give him directions. As I started back to the office, the man caught my attention and told me that I was the nicest person he'd spoken to all day. That tells me that most of his interactions with people were not very positive. So, I could not imagine a man who has difficulty communicating with people intentionally leaving his family to embark on a new life.

I would think there were security cameras at the animal park, but don't remember reading that LE has any surveillance footage from the day Johnny disappeared. It would be good to know whether he even made it to the park. I wonder if there was more than one entrance/exit? If so, he may have exited a different way than he entered the park and became disoriented.

I do hope Johnny has found someone trustworthy to help him and is being well cared for. Perhaps he stopped in at a church and they found shelter for him. I will worry about him until I know that he has been safely returned to his family. I know everyone else feels the same way, even if you want to convince yourself otherwise. Some of you have put in a lot of time, effort and money looking for this man.

 

[Reannan]

I have a question that I have been meaning to ask. Who took the picture of Johnny standing beside the red car? That was supposed to have been taken the day he went missing, correct?

 

[Peekerfoo]

I really doubt that Johnny wants to be separated from his family, especially knowing this was his first visit to MB. I was thinking it was an annual vacation. I've worked with people who have disabilities, including speech impediments, and many of them get frustrated when they're not able to communicate effectively. Often, the person they try communicating with, unless familiar with them, gets annoyed. A few years ago when I went outside to check the mailbox at work, a man walking down the street stopped and asked me directions to a nearby business. He had a severe speech impediment, but I was able to understand him well enough to give him directions. As I started back to the office, the man caught my attention and told me that I was the nicest person he'd spoken to all day. That tells me that most of his interactions with people were not very positive. So, I could not imagine a man who has difficulty communicating with people intentionally leaving his family to embark on a new life.

I would think there were security cameras at the animal park, but don't remember reading that LE has any surveillance footage from the day Johnny disappeared. It would be good to know whether he even made it to the park. I wonder if there was more than one entrance/exit? If so, he may have exited a different way than he entered the park and became disoriented.

I do hope Johnny has found someone trustworthy to help him and is being well cared for. Perhaps he stopped in at a church and they found shelter for him. I will worry about him until I know that he has been safely returned to his family. I know everyone else feels the same way, even if you want to convince yourself otherwise. Some of you have put in a lot of time, effort and money looking for this man.

I was thinking of him wanting to go off on his own as only one possibility, and not so much as a long range plan, but something he may have thought he could do at the moment. It is the least probable in my mind, but since he is an adult it did occur to me.

I do believe that no matter what happened Johnny is at risk. I'm scared for him and I pray for him every day. I'm not convinced of anything ,including the idea that he's at a church or a homeless shelter, but it's what I pray for.

The park was an Amusement Park and I have only gone in one way which is kind of to the left side if your facing it while standing on Ocean Blvd. I don't think there are any other entrances in the back of the park because there's a fence, but there might be another near the front. I've only used the one on the left side. I'm not sure about cameras there.

Johnny's speech impediment is certainly a detriment to him if he's trying to communicate his wishes to people. On a more positive note, it may be the one thing that will stand out to someone who's heard about him that he comes in contact with.

 

[Peekerfoo]

I have a question that I have been meaning to ask. Who took the picture of Johnny standing beside the red car? That was supposed to have been taken the day he went missing, correct?

I have no clue who took the picture, but it was probably one of his family members.

I so wish we had more pictures, especially ones with facial hair or hair on his head (if he isn't naturally bald). He must look so different now if he hasn't been able to tend to his grooming.

 

[fabgod]

Its been a long long time since there were any sightings of Johnny now as far as we know, I wonder why The family are coming back to Myrtle Beach? I would have thought it might make more sense to go to another town or city and try and raise awareness, it really doesnt seem like he is in the original location. I know that is the focal point, but from what I read, the parents spent much of the time in the hotel room, I dont know if that was true or not.
Maybe it would be more productive to make appointments to meet LE in some different towns/cities maybe on the way to Atlanta from Myrtle, just to try and bring Johnnys profile up a little?

Out of interest, the woman that Johnny was mentioned to have been seen with, does anyone know what she looked like?

 

[Nonni Brenda]

<modsnip>

There is another case just added here on a Ga 18 yr old, found after being held prisoner by his parents in his room. I am posting the link to the thread. It breaks my heart that Johnny could possibly be held prisoner right now by someone who has come in contact with him. So depressing... http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?p=8385922&posted=1#post8385922
ETA: Sorry for re-posting the thread for the Comer case. I guess I didn't see the one's above...