In the late afternoon of a summer day in Akron, Ohio, the life of Neal L. Boware, a 21-year-old man, took a distressing and mysterious turn. On July 24, 2006, Neal, who is of Black and Korean descent, was walking home with his mother after a doctor's appointment. Around 5:30 p.m., they made a stop at a grocery store. In a moment that would forever alter the course of his family's life, Neal unexpectedly ran out of the store.
His mother followed, witnessing him run towards a bridge on West Thornton Street, which spans over railroad tracks between Broadway and Wolfledges. In a harrowing sequence of events, Neal was last seen on top of this bridge as a train was passing underneath.
At the time of his disappearance, Neal was described as being between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall, and weighing between 165 and 180 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes and was last seen wearing a red t-shirt, blue jeans, and white K-Swiss sneakers. He also wore wire-rimmed glasses. Distinctive physical features include a pierced left ear, a scar above one of his ankles, and growth bumps on both of his knees. It is also noted that Neal has a medical condition, paranoid schizophrenia, and was in need of medication at the time he went missing.
The circumstances surrounding Neal's disappearance remain unresolved, leaving his family with unanswered questions. Despite the busy time of day and the public location of his last known whereabouts, a clear understanding of what happened after he was seen on the bridge has never been established. Law enforcement was contacted, but by the time they arrived at the scene, Neal was gone. Searches of the area and the train yielded no signs of him. His case is a poignant reminder of the enduring pain and uncertainty that families of missing persons face. The Akron Police Department continues to hold the case file, and the hope for answers, though dimmed by the passage of time, has not been entirely extinguished.Last Seen: Jul 24, 2006
