In the small town of Eutawville, South Carolina, the last day of 2008 marked the beginning of a lasting mystery for the family and friends of Robert S. Grooms Jr.. Known affectionately as Bootsy, he was a 70-year-old resident of the Katura Springs Assisted Living Center. On December 31, 2008, Grooms was last seen at the facility. He was not alone when he left; another resident accompanied him.
However, his companion later returned to the center, while Grooms did not, and he has not been seen or heard from since. The weather on the day he vanished was cold and snowy, and concern grew as it was noted that he had left without a coat. He was wearing a gray and white flannel shirt, khaki pants, and a red baseball cap.
Robert Grooms Jr. was a man of slight build, standing at 5'5' and weighing around 130 pounds, with graying brown hair and brown eyes. Those familiar with him at the assisted living facility knew that he was free to come and go as he pleased and had, on occasion, left the center before. However, none of his previous excursions had lasted for such a prolonged period. His departure on New Year's Eve was different as he left without signing out, an action that, coupled with his extended absence, sparked immediate concern among those who knew him. The staff at the assisted living center and his acquaintances were left with a void of information regarding his intended destination or plans.
The Orangeburg County Sheriff's Office is the investigating agency handling the case of Robert Grooms Jr.'s disappearance. Despite the passage of time, his case remains unsolved, and he is considered to be in danger due to the circumstances of his disappearance. He had no significant medical problems at the time he went missing. The overview of this case is one of a quiet disappearance that has left more questions than answers. A 70-year-old man left his residence with a fellow resident, who then returned alone. Grooms, without a coat in the cold, seemingly vanished without a trace, creating a long-standing and troubling mystery for the Eutawville community and law enforcement.Last Seen: Dec 31, 2008
