Found Deceased TX - Stephen Shawn Austin, 17, El Paso, 19 Aug 1997

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Missing Since: August 19, 1997 from El Paso, Texas
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: September 22, 1979
Age: 17 years old
Height and Weight: 6'1, 140 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: African-American male. Black hair, brown eyes. Austin has scars on both sides of his neck and on his nose. His right ear is pierced. Austin's nickname is Steve.
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A white t-shirt, dark blue or brown pants or jeans, white tennis shoes, and a round gold earring in his right ear.
Medical Conditions: Austin suffers from heart and sinus problems. He also has asthma.

Details of Disappearance

Austin was disappeared from El Paso, Texas on August 19, 1997. Accounts differ as to whether he was last seen leaving his residence in the morning hours to go to school, or was last seen at his home at 11:00 p.m. that day. He resided in the 9500 block of Sims at the time of his disappearance. Few details are available in his case.

Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
El Paso Police Department
Pebble Hill Sector
915-599-5712
OR
Texas Department Of Public Safety

800-346-3243

Charley Project

NCMEC​

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[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Police need community's help in solving a missing person cold case

El Paso Police are asking for your help in solving a cold case from nearly twenty years ago. But it's not your typical cold case.

[snip]

Detective Aman said the case was recently handed to the cold case unit because it's been nearly 20 since the missing teen was last seen.

He said if there is anyone who may recognize Austin or may have heard anything on his whereabouts, they are urged to call the police at 564-7010.

More: http://www.ktsm.com/news/police-need-communitys-help-solving-missing-person-cold-case

 

[JerseyGirl]

still missing: http://www.chron.com/neighborhood/f...for-missing-teenage-7395614.php#photo-8341377

 

[CastlesBurning]

Bumping for Steve as we approach the 23rd anniversary of his disappearance

 

[Aurora90]

I really wish we had more information. The inability to have a confirmed last sighting makes it difficult. I wish his family spoke more about him going missing.

 

[BrownBear]

Stephen's photo is shown age-progressed to 41 years.

Have you seen this child? Stephen Austin

 

[BrownBear]

Adding NamUs link

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[DS2021]

Hes been identified as a john doe

A Missing El Paso Teen is Identified 27 Years Later

Mississippi State Medical Examiner & Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Team with Othram to Identify a John Doe

dnasolves.com

 

[Aurora90]

Hes been identified as a john doe

A Missing El Paso Teen is Identified 27 Years Later

Mississippi State Medical Examiner & Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Team with Othram to Identify a John Doe

dnasolves.com

Wow! I’m glad he was finally identified!

Did the John Doe happen to have a WS thread?

 

[DS2021]

Wow! I’m glad he was finally identified!

Did the John Doe happen to have a WS thread?

No. UP132686 was the namus number

 

[HopeRains]

I've looked for Stephen through the years and have often wondered about him. So glad to see he was identified. Not clear to me where or when his remains were recovered - the release says the remains were transferred to Mississippi State MEs office. I'm sure there are a lot of unanswered questions which will now have some more direct light put on them. Peace.

 

[Darling136]

Stephen has been the first match of the 525 initiative by @othram

A Missing El Paso Teen is Identified 27 Years Later

Mississippi State Medical Examiner & Mississippi Bureau of Investigation Team with Othram to Identify a John Doe

dnasolves.com

From the link
In 2018, the remains of an unidentified individual were transferred to the Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office so that an anthropological analysis could be developed in hopes that the individual could be identified. It was determined that the remains were that of an unknown Black male who was estimated to be approximately 15-24 years of age. Details of the case were entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) as UP132686.
...
These new leads were provided to investigators, and a follow-up investigation was conducted. With the provided information, investigators were able to identify a potential relative of the young man. The DNA profile of the potential relative was compared to the unknown young man's DNA profile using KinSNP® Rapid Relationship Testing. This investigation led to the identification of the young man as Stephen "Steve" Shawn Austin, born September 22, 1979.

For information on the initiative see here

Thread 'Project 525 is for unidentified kids, but we need your help!'

Nov 20, 2024

Dear Websleuths Members and Guests,
Othram, the leading forensic sequencing laboratory for law enforcement, is proud to announce Project 525.
Teaming up with the National Missing and Unidentified Person's System, AKA NamUs, Othram is determined to find the identity of 525 children and return them to their families!
Othram's Forensic-Grade Genome Sequencing (FGGS) has been instrumental in solving missing cases in all jurisdictions in the U.S. and worldwide.
Can you imagine not knowing what happened to your child? Imagining this horrible scenario makes me sick to my stomach. I can't...

• Tricia
• Replies: 36
• Forum: What is Project 525?

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