Each year approximately 600,000 people go missing across the United States, and unfortunately many of those cases go unsolved. However some cases finally see resolution, sometimes years later. Here’s a look at 5 missing persons cases that were recently solved.
Joseph Ladnier
Name: Joseph Ladnier
Age: 60 years old
Last seen: December 24, 2023
Location: Jackson County, Mississippi
Status: Found deceased on December 29, 2023
Case Information
60 year old Joseph Ladnier was last seen in Jackson County, Mississippi on December 24, 2023. He disappeared after leaving to visit his son’s home in Moss Point.
Background
Joseph Landier is married with ten adult children. He is a Navy veteran and worked in law enforcement.
He is a legend in the powerlifting community, having broke the 2,100lbs powerlifting benchmark in 1983 at the USPF Men’s Senior Nationals.
Disappearance
Around 8:00 am on December 24, 2023, Joseph Landier was last seen in the 22000 block of Begonia Road in Jackson County.
He left home in his 2004 red and maroon Toyota Tundra to visit his son in Moss Point. Joseph never made it to his son’s house and hasn’t been heard from since.
His wife reported him missing to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office that evening when he failed to show up.
Investigation
Joseph’s bank account hasn’t had any activity since he disappeared, and his license plate has not been scanned by any local tag readers.
Authorities say Ladnier has medical issues that require medication.
On December 28, 2023, Ladnier’s truck was found in the community of Chunchula, Alabama, about 20 miles northwest of Mobile. The vehicle was parked in an abandoned driveway in the 9100 block of Chunchula Landfill Road.
A pillow, laptop, $146 in cash, and a pistol holster (without the pistol) were found inside the vehicle.
Canines followed a scent from Ladnier’s truck to a vacant residence a 8551 Chunchula Landfill Road. No evidence was found at the home indicating Joseph had been there.
Body of Joseph Landier Found
On December 29, 2023, Joseph Landier’s body was found in a wooded area about 200 yards from where his vehicle was parked.
The cause of death has yet to be determined, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Matthew Grant
Name: Matthew Joseph Grant
Age: 22 years old
Last seen: November 20, 2023
Location: Henrietta, New York
Status: Found safe on December 12, 2023
Case Information
22-year-old Matthew Joseph Grant was last seen in Henrietta, New York on November 20, 2023. He disappeared after leaving home, telling his roommates he was going to meet a friend.
Background
Matthew Joseph Grant was born on July 2, 2001 in Detroit, Michigan to parents Mark and Nancy Grant. He has a sister.
Grant grew up in Onaway, Michigan where he attended Onaway High School. He was a member of the Quiz Bowl team and was the high school’s National Honors Society president.
Grant was a four-time placer in the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state tournament. He also qualified for the MHSAA Dual States three times.
Grant lives in Henrietta, New York and is a student at Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) with a major in Mechanical Engineering. He was named co-captain of RIT’s wrestling team for the 2023-24 season.
Grant is known to frequent state parks. His hobbies include hiking, fishing and reading.
Disappearance
On November 20, 2023, Matthew Grant’s last contact with family was a phone call he made to his father where he said his wallet had been stolen and thieves cleaned out his bank account. He sounded frustrated, but not devastated, according to his father.
Grant went to wrestling practice that day and nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
Around 10:00 pm, Grant was last seen in Henrietta, New York when he left his home near the Rochester Institute of Technology campus, telling his roommates he was going to meet a girl. However, the girl later told his friends they didn’t have plans.
Instead, Grant headed east out of the Rochester area and his vehicle, a 2014 charcoal gray Jeep Cherokee with Michigan license plate ESR-8141, was traced to Exit 36, outside Syracuse.
Before midnight, Grant was seen on surveillance video at a gas station between Exit 39 and 41 near Waterloo and Syracuse. He appeared to be alone and did not appear to be in distress.
An hour later, his E-ZPass was last recorded at the Watertown-Binghamton exit on the New York State Thruway, near Exit 36 by Interstate 81.
Matthew Grant never returned home and hasn’t been heard from since.
A missing person’s report was filed with the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office when Matthew failed to return home.
Investigation
Matthew Grant left his cellphone behind at home.
His search history on the night he left shows maps of the Adirondack Mountains and Appalachian Trails. He also talked about wanting to venture out of Rochester and explore the outdoors.
Matthew Grant Found Safe
Matthew Grant has been found safe and reunited with his family.
On the night of December 12, 2023, his vehicle was found by a police officer who called in the plate number and took action, leading to the reunion.
Amir Isaiah Ellis
Name: Amir Isaiah Ellis
Age: 20 years old
Last seen: May 17, 2023
Location: Hot Springs, Arkansas
Status: Found deceased in December 2023
Case Information
20 year old Amir Isaiah Ellis was last seen in Hot Springs, Arkansas on May 17, 2023. He was last seen at a friends house where he was taken against his will.
Background
Amir is one of four boys, and is described by his mother as a happy, loving son who adores his family. At the time of his disappearance he was about to become a father.
Loved ones are confident he did not leave on his own accord, as he was close with his family and stayed in regular contact.
Disappearance
Amir Isaiah Ellis was last seen in the early morning hours of May 17, 2023 in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
At approximately 1:30 am, a friend dropped Amir off at a female acquaintance’s house located at 101 Rocky Reef Circle in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Shortly after, two males reportedly broke into the home and took him against his will.
Amir hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
He was reported missing by family shortly before 9:30 pm on May 17, 2023.
Investigation
The friend who dropped Amir off at the home on Rocky Reef Circle told the North Carolina Beat that he dropped him off “around one something” on May 17. He says he then received a call from the girl who lives there, saying two Hispanic guys ran into the house and took Amir.
When the girl was asked why she didn’t call 911 she said she was told not to.
After Amir was reported missing the Hot Springs police issued a be on the lookout (BOLO) for the kidnapping suspects.
On May 27, 2023, the Fort Smith Police Department SWAT team arrested three suspects at a home on North Short 7th Street in connection with Amir’s disappearance.
The suspects, 18 year old Nathaniel Speed, 18 year old Alexia Chambers, and a 17 year old, were charged with felony kidnapping and are being held on a $1 million bond.
Amir’s mother has been organizing search parties, teaming up with family, friends, and members of the community as they search across Hot Springs for any clues as to his whereabouts.
“This case remains under investigation and we are still seeking the whereabouts of Amir Ellis,” Hot Springs Officer Omar Cervantes said in a press release. “In order to ensure a fair judicial process to all parties involved, the Garland County Circuit Court has issued a gag order in relation to this case and we are unable to provide any other information at this time,” he added.
Remains of Amir Found in Garland County
On December 16, 2023, possible human remains were found in a wooded area off Highway 7 North, in the area where several searches have been held for Amir.
The remains were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for DNA testing. Amir’s mother, Jessica, says investigators informed her that the remains belonged to her son.
The Garland County Sheriff’s Office sent out a press release confirming that the remains found belonged to Amir.
No further information has been released at this time.
Caitlyn Rose Case
Name: Caitlyn Rose Case
Age: 33 years old
Last seen: August 5, 2022
Location: Paris, Texas
Status: Found deceased in October 2023, identified in December
Case Information
33-year-old Caitlyn Rose Case was last seen in Paris, Texas on August 5, 2022. She disappeared while traveling from Houma, Louisiana to Colorado.
Background
Caitlyn Rose Case was born on January 25, 1989. She is a Louisiana native.
At the time of her disappearance, Case had recently moved to Colorado where her family members lived. She worked as a technical mechanic.
Disappearance
On July 31, 2022, Caitlyn Rose Case took a flight to Houma, Louisiana where she planned to purchase a vehicle.
On August 4, 2022, Case left Houma and started the trip back home to Colorado in her car. She was in constant contact with family members during her travels, and reported having difficulty with her vehicle’s navigation system and sporadic cell service in some areas.
Case later traveled through Texas and stopped at convenience stores in the cities of Mount Pleasant, Gladewater, Lewisville, Gainesville, and Paris.
On August 5, 2022, Case’s last contact with her family was a phone call she made to her father around 5:00 pm. She had gotten lost in the rural areas of Texas, and was last known to be traveling northbound on Highway 271, about 5 miles southwest of Bogata, Texas.
Case’s phone call cut out shortly after 5:00 pm. Her family kept trying to contact her that evening and into the next day but were unsuccessful.
Cell tower tracking indicates that Case continued north toward Paris, Texas, with her estimated time of arrival being around 6:00 pm.
Shortly after 7:00 pm, her cell phone pinged to cell towers in Pattonville, Texas, and south of Paris. At 9:17 pm, a license plate reader captured her car leaving Paris on the south loop of Highway 286 and traveling northwest to FM 79.
Her cell phone last pinged to cell towers in Choctaw County, Oklahoma. Her vehicle is believed to have traveled on Highway 271 after entering Oklahoma before it turned east on Highway 109, south of Grant, Oklahoma.
Caitlyn Rose Case hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
On August 6, 2022, her family filed a missing person’s report with the Houma Police Department when they couldn’t contact her.
Investigation
On August 12, 2022, Case’s vehicle, a 2006 black GMC Envoy with the Louisiana license plate 957FDO, was found abandoned behind a private gated property along a steep embankment on the Kiamichi River near Frogville, Oklahoma.
The vehicle was cradled in-between two small trees overhanging a 75-foot cliff. All of Case’s personal belongings were inside the vehicle, including her two cell phones and red tennis shoes.
A local resident witnessed two vehicles entering the property at an accelerated speed on the night of August 5th, but only one was seen exiting.
Authorities believe that someone other than Case attempted to dispose of her vehicle in the river. It is not believed that Case physically entered Oklahoma.
Remains Found in Fort Townson
On October 13, 2023, a set of human remains was found near the Kiamichi River in Fort Townson, Oklahoma, not far from where Caitlyn’s car was found abandoned back in 2022.
In December 2023, the remains were positively identified as Caitlyn. The manner and cause of death has yet to be determined.
Savanah Soto
Name: Savanah Soto
Age: 18 years old
Last seen: December 22, 2023
Location: Leon Valley, Texas
Status: Found deceased on December 26, 2023
18 year old Savanah Soto was last seen in Leon Valley, Texas on December 22, 2023. The pregnant teen disappeared before she was scheduled to be induced.
Background
At the time of her disappearance, Savanah was living with her boyfriend and father of her unborn baby, 22 year old Matthew Guerra.
Soto’s family says she was excited about being a mom. She had the nursery ready and the baby’s name picked out.
Disappearance
Savanah Soto was last seen leaving her apartment at Valencia Lofts off Grissom Road on the afternoon of December 22, 2023.
She was scheduled to be induced the following day, and her family immediately knew something was wrong when she failed to show up as scheduled.
They reported her missing to the Leon Valley Police Department that evening.
Investigation
Savanah may be traveling in a 2013 Kia Optima with a temporary Texas tag.
Soon after she was reported missing it was discovered that her boyfriend, Matthew Guerra, was also missing.
Authorities attempted to enter Soto’s apartment on December 25, but were unsuccessful.
Savanah Soto and Boyfriend Found Deceased
On December 26, 2023, the bodies of Savanah Soto and Matthew Guerra were discovered in a Kia Optima in northwest San Antonio. Both victims had gunshot wounds.
The car, which was found in the 5900 block of Danny Kaye Drive, had likely been at the location for several days according to authorities.
Police do not believe it was a murder suicide, though they admit “the possibility exists.”
The case is currently being investigated as a capital murder for both victims.
San Antonio police released the surveillance footage below in hopes of identifying two persons of interest, one who was driving a pickup truck and one driving the Kia Optima owned by one of the victims.
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