James Johnson Missing Person Case

James Woodford Johnson, a 60-year-old pilot, disappeared on August 28, 1985, from Fort Pierce, Florida. Johnson was last seen when he departed from the St. Lucie County Airport aboard a private plane, accompanied by a 24-year-old passenger, Patrick DiFrancesco. The two men were reportedly on a flight to retrieve a shipment of marijuana, either from the Bahamas or the Virgin Islands, but they never returned, and no wreckage of the plane was ever discovered. This disappearance has led to ongoing speculation, but neither man has been heard from since.

Both Johnson and DiFrancesco were believed to have been involved in drug trafficking operations at the time, specifically working for a local individual named Howard Crouch, who was later convicted of unrelated cocaine trafficking offenses in 1988. The theory surrounding their disappearance suggests foul play, with some believing that Johnson and DiFrancesco may have been murdered and their bodies hidden somewhere near Fort Pierce. Despite numerous rumors and a thorough investigation, including a supposed sighting of DiFrancesco in a Jamaican jail that was never confirmed, the case remains unsolved.
Last Seen: Aug 28, 1985

Missing Person / NamUs #MP14687

James Woodford Johnson - The Charley Project

Patrick Joseph DiFrancesco - The Charley Project

4662DMFL - James Woodford Johnson - Doe Network

Latest News - Citrus County Sheriff's Office