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

[GateKeeper]

Is it because he's black and poor? I like Black and Missing's FB page and they feel very strongly that black people do not get the exposure pretty blondes do when they go missing. I hope and pray that that is not true. When Jessica Ridgeway was still missing, B&M posted on their page how many Google hits you would get if you typed in her name compared to how many if you typed Jhessye Shockley. I didnt think that was a fair comparison because Jhessye went missing over a year ago, so, I type Gabrielle Swainson who has had network coverage and she had far fewer hits. Part of that may be because a lot of people think they know the answer in Gabby's case , that she is dead and the handyman did it. No sense looking for her. Meanwhile, there is a maniac on the loose in Colorado. I think we probably tend to be more interested in people who look like us, I'm more interested when a woman goes missing because women are so much more at risk and I imagine if it was me. When Gabby was getting network exposure, someone on B&M posted- Oh, Thank God, a black person finally went missing! Maybe we should all try to step outside of our comfort zones a little more and realize people are people and their hearts ache just like ours do. I invite you all to come over to the b&m page, maybe we should all try to get our black friends more involved in stuff like this, acting more as advocates for people who look like them? Just for my own Knowledge, you certainly don't have to answer, is anybody on this page black? At work, they call me the whitest woman in America, that's my picture there as my avatar!:floorlaugh: Oh well, let me drag my soapbox back to the kitchen! See you all later!

I enjoy your posts maureen.
I suppose there are some statistics that would give us an idea of why some cases are more "popular" in the media then others. All I know is that its frustrating!!
Ya'll are doing as much as you can...sometimes the media just doesnt grab hold of some cases. Its nothing YOURE doing wrong.

Ya wanna talk about frustration?...take a look at Morgan Martins case. Dont worry,it wont take you very long to read all the posts..sadly
FL FL- Morgan Martin, 17, St. Petersburg, 25-July-2012 - pregnant - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community



I truly believe that one day Johnny will find out how much time and love you ALL put into finding him. Bless your hearts..

 

[Nonni Brenda]

There is a missing truck driver alert FB page!!!! I'm posting!!

My trips to the coast are to Savannah/Tybee Island, which takes about 4 1/2-5hrs. We have gotten up before dawn, been on the beach about 10, then come back about midnight. Saves money on a hotel, Usually I'm the only one paying, with teenagers... Hilton Head is just up the beach from Tybee. Probably an hr. or less. That's kinda hard to navigate for someone who doesn't know and drive the route or know how to follow a map. If Johnny had hitched a ride that route, and they weren't going to C'ville or Atlanta, probably would have dropped him off somewhere between. He could be anywhere...

 

[fabgod]

Hi all
There have been some brilliant posts on this thread in the last couple of days imo.
Just giving my angle as a white male from the UK, I would say that if I was lookingfrom a totally cold outsider point of view, the only potential interest point would be that JLB is special needs.
The negatives are he is a grown man, therefore the sympathy level is not high,
There is no scandal attached, he is not newsworthy from the shock value side of media
There is no support from the family as such
JLB is a black man.

Sadly, this world now seems to revolve around drama, high profile scandal, sex and horror, Johnny doesnt fit.
There just isnt any media angle apart from the special needs one and that has been somewhat downplayed imo, in fact there has been no attempt publicly since the start and then the CUE search, to try and raise JLBs profile from friends or family, if the direct loved ones are not banging and shouting then the press and TV certainly arent going to show an interest.
If Johnny was say 10, black, had special needs and was missing, there would be a massive difference to the media, same as if he was a 17 year old blonde pretty girl, there is the "what if" thought in the mind in both those examples, the places you dont want to go to in your mind but cant help yourself, but with Johnny, its "well thats a shame but he is a grown man, so he either is dead or he will be ok"

I don't want anyone to think I am thinking like that by the way(I wouldnt be here if I was), I'm just pointing out what I would say is a pretty general view of how JLB would be perceived

 

[fabgod]

Having raised 3 white girls ,1 white boy and 3 black boys ,I know there is a difference in how the black boys can be treated differently,especially when we are shopping .

I think Johnny being a grown man may be making a difference .
Being a black man probably hasn't helped .

The media definitely covers white girls the most ,and the longest .

I thought that Johnny would get SOME national attention because he is special needs . It's really all very sad .

Just posted my long winded rant before I saw this MissJames, you did it in 4 lines :rocker:

I totally agree

 

[Peekerfoo]

When Adji Desir went missing, his case made national news and was on the NG show. He has never been found.
Hassani Campbell's story has been featured numerous times. He has never been found.
Isabel Celis disappeared and has not been found. She has been in the news.
Brian Wehrie of Carrolton disappeared and his case is no longer top news.
The three Skelton boys, Tanner, Alexander and Andrew, went missing and have not been found.
Trenton Duckett from FL has never been found.
The Jamison family in OK have never been found.
Brittanee Drexel, Lindsey Baum, Hailey Dunn, Joshua Davis, Ayla, Lisa....
Black, white, hispanic, girls, boys, men, women, babies.

I could go on and on with cases that have died out even when they have had national attention. It's not because people don't care and not because of race or sex or age or rich or poor. People do care and when they know about a case, they will research and rehash every bit of clues and information they can find to help solve it.

You can only go over and over the same things so long. If no news, tips or stories are put out in the media, people will eventually go with the next or newest case where they feel they can help more. That's not saying they have forgotten about the case. Older cases are still being monitored and when something breaks in a case, everyone will jump back in again. An example of that is the Hailey Dunn case when human remains were discovered nearby. WS was mobbed by everyone hoping and believing it was her, but sadly it wasn't. She's still missing.

Most cases that are highly publicized are because of interaction between LE and the family/friends and the media.

In the case of the two missing boys going to Myrtle Beach, the family is highly involved and are keeping everyone hopping with their updates. In Johnny's case though, we have just not had any news updates or help from family or friends or tips to keep his case more active in a long time.

Hopefully, he will be found with the new flyers being posted now.

I agree that so many missing people have not been found even though they've gotten national attention. I think the difference is that most of the poeple you mentioned were probably killed and their bodies have been hidden. In Johnny's case, he just wandered off. No one was trying to hide him as far as we know. I believe with enough exposure he could be found--alive. I would like all families of missing people to have their loved ones back, be it alive or deceased. I feel like Johnny still has a fighting chance to make it home safely, so to me, it is urgent to get the word out.

 

[Peekerfoo]

Just posted my long winded rant before I saw this MissJames, you did it in 4 lines :rocker:

I totally agree

I totally agree with both you and Miss James. It's reality, whether we like it or not.

I was trying to think of an analogy about one of the reasons Johnny isn't getting more exposure. This was the best I could do and it's not a great one, but here goes--
Say my neighbors lost their black lab who had a bad leg. At first they are all over the neighborhood begging us to help find the dog, so everyone pitches in and puts up flyers about the dog. We all search nearby areas and ask everyone we meet if they've seen this poor dog. Soon we notice that the neighbors who own the dog are not really talking about it anymore. We are all still quite concerned about the disabled lab, but they just pray that he'll find his way home somehow. After awhile the neighbors start to wonder about this. Maybe the vet bills are to high? Maybe they can't afford the dog anymore? Maybe they just believe God will bring the dog home? Maybe NONE of these things are TRUE, but that's how everyone is thinking because the owners won't talk about it. That's their choice and there's nothing anyone can do about it, so the interest fades a little. There are people who will always take a second look at every black lab they see and others who will just assume that the dog made his way home or that he got hit by a car. Some of us will check the animal shelters weekly and others will call the animal hospitals, but eventually with nothing to go on, people start to give up. In our minds we pray that a loving family has taken in this dog and are providing him with a safe and loving home. That happens, but most likely he is out there scrounging for food and trying to stay warm. My point is that the owners should have kept the momentum going if they really wanted their dog back and even though he's got a bad leg and he's not a cute little puppy, he should have gotten the same attention as if he was.

Let me remind everyone this is not a great analogy and I am NOT putting Johnny in the same category as a missing dog! I was just trying to break it down to a simple story. Every family has the right to handle their missing dog any way they see fit, but it doesn't mean that all the neighbors will stop looking... Not bashing the owners for their decisions, just pointing out that it's their personal choice of how to handle the situation.

 

[MissJames]

Just posted my long winded rant before I saw this MissJames, you did it in 4 lines :rocker:

I totally agree

I think we're both just stating the obvious.

Something I had not thought about before is, does the family not expect an interest from the general public for all those reasons,therefore they don't pursue some avenues based on past experiences?

Think of what the world was like 75 years ago for Johnny's parents .

My 12 year old son,who is black is often spoken to or closely watched by shop clerks . We experienced must the same with our older black son,who has since died,yet nothing like that for our blond haired ,blue eyed boy. It infuriating.

There has been much progress against prejudice,but in some areas,not so much.
For instance:
I do believe that in some ways George Zimmerman is not prejudiced. He probably has black friends that he truly likes,but the night he saw a black boy walking in his neighborhood,knowing there had been some break ins, he profiled Trayvon in that situation. If Trayvon had been white I don't think GZ would have made the leap to "thief" ,but that's JMO.

So,not only is Johnny getting limited attention,he's also being shut out by people who he seeks help from . :banghead:

 

[maureen]

I agree that so many missing people have not been found even though they've gotten national attention. I think the difference is that most of the poeple you mentioned were probably killed and their bodies have been hidden. In Johnny's case, he just wandered off. No one was trying to hide him as far as we know. I believe with enough exposure he could be found--alive. I would like all families of missing people to have their loved ones back, be it alive or deceased. I feel like Johnny still has a fighting chance to make it home safely, so to me, it is urgent to get the word out.

Peek - you said it in a nutshell! So many of these cases, we "know" the person is already dead "Gabby-RIP,MOO. There's an estranged hubby, troubled family, drugs, etc. But, you are absolutely right, there is no reason to think anyone wanted Johnny dead, he is truly lost! And can't tell anybody!! And by now, has been homeless for almost 3 months! There is absolutely no reason to think he is dead! Speaking of that, we got another LIKE today on FB!! If any of you have any ideas on ways to improve OUR page, please let me know, I try to do something everyday, even if just adding a cover photo, it makes it go to peoples timelines, I am open to any and all suggestions. Let's find Johnny!!!

 

[maureen]

Just gave myself an idea, if JB knows he lives near Atlanta, he may have made it there somehow. I'll start liking places and businesses in Atlanta to get his face out there.

 

[maureen]

Gatekeeper, at your suggestion, I read up on Morgan Martin. I was aware of her case and had shared it on MY FB page, but, hadnt looked here in WS cuz Im not in Florida, not likely to be able to help. People here were saying how messed up her FB page is , the posts from Sept 17 being the problem, so, I looked at that.:furious:OMG!! They are brawling on that page!! I could only read it for like 2 minutes, had to get out! If these are the kinds of people she is hanging with...... I did not look at the page of the babys father, DAMN!! I did have JB LIKE her page, but, I hope none of those fools comes to our FB page!!:furious::furious: I couldnt even read it, it is so upsetting!!

 

[watcher9]

Just gave myself an idea, if JB knows he lives near Atlanta, he may have made it there somehow. I'll start liking places and businesses in Atlanta to get his face out there.

I like your idea about Atlanta. Go for it!
Maybe Johnny has the instinct to make his way home like a homing pigeon which is a good thing.

I was thinking today about the attention Johnny has been getting. Then, I realized his case is in the middle of its second thread. Most cases never make it more than a few pages.

Note. Link to 1st thread from first post in this thread does not work.

 

[TxLady2]

I think we're both just stating the obvious.

Something I had not thought about before is, does the family not expect an interest from the general public for all those reasons,therefore they don't pursue some avenues based on past experiences?

Think of what the world was like 75 years ago for Johnny's parents .

My 12 year old son,who is black is often spoken to or closely watched by shop clerks . We experienced must the same with our older black son,who has since died,yet nothing like that for our blond haired ,blue eyed boy. It infuriating.

There has been much progress against prejudice,but in some areas,not so much.
For instance:
I do believe that in some ways George Zimmerman is not prejudiced. He probably has black friends that he truly likes,but the night he saw a black boy walking in his neighborhood,knowing there had been some break ins, he profiled Trayvon in that situation. If Trayvon had been white I don't think GZ would have made the leap to "thief" ,but that's JMO.

So,not only is Johnny getting limited attention,he's also being shut out by people who he seeks help from . :banghead:

I agree. Like I've said a few times, he may have been approaching people for help, some who may have been in a position to help him... but because he is a black man, and because he was no doubt a little scruffy-looking by then, they just ignored him and moved on. Because of his speech impediment it might appear to strangers as though he was high on drugs or intoxicated, looking for a handout.

 

[MissJames]

:bump:



WHAT HAPPENED TO JOHNNY LAMAR BROWN ?

 

[watcher9]

bumping.

I wish we knew where Johnny is.

 

[Nonni Brenda]

Me too...

 

[maureen]

Belated thanks to mikkismom! I did see your kind words of support before it was deleted. The mod (Fran) was extremely nice about it, though! She said I should try the Jury Room- I've never been there, may go take a look!

 

[fabgod]

http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/man-found-in-burning-wheelchair-still-unidentified/nSkqG/

Has anyone heard anything about the Identity of this poor guy?
I'm not trying to say it is Johnny, I came across this while searching for any information on Johnnys whereabouts

 

[nosysw]

:bump:

Where are you Johnny B?????

 

[GateKeeper]

I enjoy your posts maureen.
I suppose there are some statistics that would give us an idea of why some cases are more "popular" in the media then others. All I know is that its frustrating!!
Ya'll are doing as much as you can...sometimes the media just doesnt grab hold of some cases. Its nothing YOURE doing wrong.

Ya wanna talk about frustration?...take a look at Morgan Martins case. Dont worry,it wont take you very long to read all the posts..sadly
FL FL- Morgan Martin, 17, St. Petersburg, 25-July-2012 - pregnant - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community



I truly believe that one day Johnny will find out how much time and love you ALL put into finding him. Bless your hearts..

Gatekeeper, at your suggestion, I read up on Morgan Martin. I was aware of her case and had shared it on MY FB page, but, hadnt looked here in WS cuz Im not in Florida, not likely to be able to help. People here were saying how messed up her FB page is , the posts from Sept 17 being the problem, so, I looked at that.:furious:OMG!! They are brawling on that page!! I could only read it for like 2 minutes, had to get out! If these are the kinds of people she is hanging with...... I did not look at the page of the babys father, DAMN!! I did have JB LIKE her page, but, I hope none of those fools comes to our FB page!!:furious::furious: I couldnt even read it, it is so upsetting!!

Thank you Maureen for taking a look at Morgans case. Its a sad one,for sure.

I wish she AND Johnny could get more media coverage. Thank goodness Johnny has you guys to keep up the search...as best you can. Im so impressed!

 

[Nonni Brenda]

Bumping. Still praying for Johnny...