In the late spring of 1983, the life of the Crocker family in Van Buren, Arkansas, was irrevocably altered. Mary Crocker, a mother of three, found herself in a difficult situation with her husband incarcerated and in need of assistance with her children. A friend introduced her to a woman who called herself Kathy Johnson, a carnival worker whose rodeo had recently stopped in nearby Fort Smith. Seeking help, Mary invited Johnson to stay in her home for a week to look after the children.
On the night of June 9, 1983, a party was held at the Crocker residence where alcohol was served. The following morning, a grim discovery was made: four-month-old Matthew Wade Crocker and Kathy Johnson were gone. Also missing was the family's 1973 Chevrolet Vega. Matthew's one-year-old sister had been left unharmed in the same crib she had shared with her infant brother.
The investigation into Matthew's disappearance began swiftly. The day after the abduction, the Crockers' stolen Chevrolet Vega was found abandoned at a rest stop near Sallisaw, Oklahoma, but there was no sign of Matthew or his abductor. 'Kathy Johnson' had shared some details about herself with Mary Crocker, claiming to be twenty-six years old and having tragically lost two of her own children shortly after their births. She was described as a white female, approximately 5'4' tall, with blonde or light brown hair and a chipped or decayed front tooth. She had several distinctive tattoos: a unicorn on her upper left arm, the name 'Kathy' with a ribbon above it on her upper right arm, and a green and yellow star or sunburst on the left side of her chest. She also had a six- to seven-inch scar on her shoulder blade and another scar above her right knee. At the time of his disappearance, Matthew was a small infant with brown hair, brown eyes, and a distinct physical characteristic known as pectus excavatum, or a concave chest.
Decades have passed since Matthew Crocker was taken from his family's home, yet the case remains unsolved. Law enforcement agencies, including the Van Buren Police Department, continue to seek information that could lead to a breakthrough. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has released age-progressed photos of what Matthew might look like as an adult, as well as a composite sketch of his abductor. Authorities believe it is possible that the woman who took Matthew raised him as her own and that he may be alive today, unaware of his true identity. A tip suggested that his abductor may have been traveling to California, but this has never been confirmed. The disappearance of Matthew Wade Crocker is a heart-wrenching case of non-family abduction that has left a family with unanswered questions and the enduring hope of one day being reunited with their son.Last Seen: Jun 9, 1983
