VA VA - USMC Gunnery Sergeant Rex Casper, 41, Norfolk, 19 May 1995

[Richard]

Rex Casper is a 41 year old Gunnery Sergeant with 19 and 1/2 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, who disappeared after dropping his daughter off at Sherwood Forrest Elementary School in Norfolk, Virginia during the morning hours of May 19, 1995. Rex Casper never arrived for duty at 9 AM as scheduled and did not return home.

Rex Casper was driving a 1986 Ford Van which was was discovered abandoned in Norfolk on May 30, 1995, 11 days after he disappeared. The vehicle was unlocked and the keys were in the ignition. Rex Casper’s wallet was found on the back seat of the van, open to a picture of his family. His driver’s license and long-distance calling card were also on the seat, but his military identification card was missing. Rex Casper’s ashtray in the car was filled with cigarette butts and there was sand on the driver’s side floor, which is uncharacteristic of him since he usually kept the car clean and neat. Investigators stated that the evidence in the Ford appeared to have been staged.

Rex Casper’s automatic teller machine (ATM) card was used at approximately 9:00 a.m. the day he disappeared. One request was rejected for insufficient funds; in the other, less than $20 was withdrawn. Someone made a series of withdrawals and transfers from Rex Casper’s account in the days preceding his disappearance. Some money was transferred to his checking account and about $600 was withdrawn. The money came from advances Rex Casper had gotten for work-related travel, but he had not traveled anywhere. His ATM card has not been used since May 19, 1995.

According to Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Rex Casper has a history of alcohol abuse and has gone through an alcohol rehabilitation program. He is described by many to be a loner, having a non-aggressive and laid-back personality. He interacts well professionally but keeps his personal life to himself. He is skilled in auto mechanics and enjoys nature, mountains, and forest areas.

At the time of his disappearance in 1995, Rex Casper was 41 years old, 6 feet tall and weighed 170 pounds. Rex has brown hair and brown eyes and may have a mustache, beard or goatee. Rex has a three inch scar on his right knee and a scar on his right elbow. He also has a tattoo of Casper the Ghost on his left arm and a tattoo of a Marine Corps Bulldog at an unknown location on his body.

If you have any information about the whereabouts of Rex Casper, contact the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Headquarters at 202-433-9225 reference case# W-874802696

Or the Norfolk, Virginia Police Department at 757 664-7070. (NamUs MP # 1018)

Facebook page set up for Rex Casper: Rex Casper - Missing Person NCIS Missing Person Poster: http://www.ncis.navy.mil/ContactUs/Documents/MISSING-Rex-Casper.pdf

Read more: Rex Casper

 

[PayrollNerd]

Rex Casper - Missing Person Facebook page post. The daughter has identified herself. It’s good to know they haven’t given up hope of finding him.

Rex Casper - Missing Person

 

[PayrollNerd]

Rex Casper - Missing Person Facebook post from 5/17/2011 the daughter gives a bunch of detail in the comments. A number of things were incorrectly reported but its not clear if the current media info is now accurate.

Newspaper article on Rex's disappearance, 10 year anniversary - From the Virginian-Pilot May 23, 2005 | Facebook

 

[Richard]

Gunnery Sergeant Rex Casper, USMC

From Casper's daughter: "... he does NOT have a tattoo of a bulldog. The only tattoo that Rex has (or had in 1995) is of Casper the Ghost on his left arm. I don't know how this miss-information about the "bulldog" tattoo got started, but it is stated on several missing persons' websites."

 

[Richard]

With 19 and a half years in the Marine Corps, he could have retired on a lifetime pension. It does not make sense that he would have simply deserted and disappeared on his own.

 

[CastlesBurning]

Rex Casper – The Charley Project

Rex Casper

https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1218dmva.html

 

[Richard]

Rex Casper


Name: Rex Casper
Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: May 19, 1995
Location Last Seen: Norfolk, Norfolk City County, Virginia

Physical Description
Date of Birth: December 12, 1953
Age: 41 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 170 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Nickname/Alias: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: 3" scar on his right knee. Scar on his left elbow, Tattoo of Casper the Ghost on his left arm. Tattoo of a Marine bulldog, location unknown.

Identifiers
Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Not Available
DNA: Not Available

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Disappearance
Rex Casper was last seen on May 19, 1995, dropping his daughter off at Sherwood Forrest Elementary School in Norfolk, Virginia. He never returned home.

On May 30, 1995, his 1986 Ford van was found in Norfolk. The van was unlocked, with the keys in the ignition, and Casper's wallet on the back seat, open to his family portrait. His driver’s license and a long-distance calling card also lay on the seat. His military identification was missing. Cigarette butts filled the ashtray and sand covered the driver’s side floor – unusual for a man who prided himself on keeping a clean car. The display seemed staged, according to the forensic police officers who collected evidence from the van. Although he was on leave, Casper was expected at a work meeting at 09.00 a.m. He never arrived.

Credit union records showed that someone twice used Casper’s card at an automatic teller machine about 09.00 a.m. the morning he disappeared. One request was rejected for insufficient funds. The second yielded less than $20. Someone made a series of transfers and withdrawals from the account in the days preceding May 19. Some of the money went into the Casper's’ checking account. But $600 was withdrawn. The money came from advances Rex received to pay for job-related travel. But he had not taken any trips. The credit card attached to Casper’s bank account was never used after May 19, 1995.

Casper is a gunnery sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, six months from retiring with 20 years of service. He at one time lived in Savannah, GA. He may have been seen in the Mayport, Florida area.

Investigating Agency(s)

Agency Name: Naval Criminal Investigative Service Headquarters
Agency Case Number: W-874802696

Agency Name: Norfolk Police Department
Agency Phone Number: 757 664-7070

NCIC Case Number: M-837280892
NamUs Case Number: 1018

Information Source(s)
NamUs
HamptonRoads.Com
1218DMVA - Rex Casper

 

[PayrollNerd]

Did they test the sand? Sand from the Norfolk area is different from the sand in Mayport FL. The content of the water, sealife, plant life, etc will make the sand from each area unique. Or, if it’s not beach sand, it could be construction sand, leveling sand or playground sand.

Cigarette butts filled the ashtray and sand covered the driver’s side floor – unusual for a man who prided himself on keeping a clean car. The display seemed staged, ....

 

[apearn]

bump

 

[Cimatico]

Enhanced images from source Rex Casper – The Charley Project

 

[Suglo]

Bump.

 

[virginiasvanished]

bump - it has been 27 years since this happened as a week from today

 

[virginiasvanished]

Did they test the sand? Sand from the Norfolk area is different from the sand in Mayport FL. The content of the water, sealife, plant life, etc will make the sand from each area unique. Or, if it’s not beach sand, it could be construction sand, leveling sand or playground sand.

Cigarette butts filled the ashtray and sand covered the driver’s side floor – unusual for a man who prided himself on keeping a clean car. The display seemed staged, ....

forensics wasn't what it was today back in 1995. i do find it odd that they didn't test the cigarettes or even take note of what cigarettes they were to compare to his brand of choice.

the fact that the van was left abandoned only a mile from their home as well. it sat for a while. when did they report him missing? i have so many questions. this case intrigues me and someone, somewhere knows something.

 

[spartanx]

a very interesting case...i'm not an expert but there are a couple of details that stand out to me...if it was a robbery what was the point of taking his military ID? it would have been useless....plus the fact that the wallet was open in a family portrait seems too much of a coincidence for him not to have done it himself...
The withdrawal attempts are interesting...he may have been drinking so much that he didn't realize he was off balance...then he drove confused for a while and realized he wasn't going to make it to work...rather than be embarrassed or penalized he took his own life...
i can't explain why after all these years they haven't found his body...i'm also surprised that his second wife tried to kill herself...this suggests some guilt as if she had him killed but if there wasn't a motive..this seems unlikely...that's all i have..
whatever
rest in peace

 

[Pennysmom1]