On May 27, 1994, Marco Leonard King, a 48-year-old man, vanished while working at a ranch west of Tucson, Arizona. Known to his loved ones as a kind-hearted and gentle person, King was a devoted father, brother, and son. Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he had relocated to the remote community of Three Points in Pima County, where he lived a rustic life on a property he co-owned with his brother.
Their living quarters consisted of a converted bus and old trailers, without modern amenities like running water or electricity. Standing at an imposing six feet three inches and weighing around 185 pounds, King was a noticeable figure with black hair, brown eyes, a patch over his left eye, and a scar on his throat. He was employed as a ranch hand at the Keeylocko Ranch, a historic Black cowboy town located miles southwest of Tucson. Without a vehicle of his own, he relied on walking, hitchhiking, or rides from neighbors to get to work.
The circumstances surrounding Marco King's disappearance are unsettling. He was last seen tending to animals at the corral on the Keeylocko Ranch. A number of his personal belongings were discovered left behind at the ranch, including his backpack, hat, sunglasses, a book, cigarettes, and clothing. Notably, his rifle was missing from among his possessions. Back at his modest home, his food stamps and letters from his family were found untouched in his mailbox, including a letter from his daughter, who was serving in the U.S. Coast Guard at the time, postmarked after he was last seen. The discovery of these abandoned personal effects was highly uncharacteristic, as he was known to be a responsible individual who cared for his three beloved dogs and maintained regular contact with his family, calling his mother several times a month.
Weeks after he was last seen, with no word from him, his family grew deeply concerned. His sister, upon returning from a trip, initiated inquiries and a horseback search was organized. On June 8, 1994, a missing person report was officially filed with the Pima County Sheriff's Department. Despite the passage of time, his case remains an open and active investigation, with foul play suspected. The Pima County Sheriff's Department continues to be the agency of record for this decades-old cold case. The story of Marco King is a somber reminder of the many unresolved missing person cases in the Tucson area, leaving a family without answers and a community with a lingering sense of loss.Last Seen: May 27, 1994
