On a fall afternoon in 1981, 18-year-old James William Hires walked out of his parents' home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, with the stated intention of picking up his brother. It was approximately 2:30 p.m. on October 12th, and he was driving the family car. This seemingly ordinary errand took a bewildering turn when, at 4:00 p.m., his brother called their parents to say that James had never arrived. Concern mounted as hours turned into days, with no word from the young man. The family's car, the one James had been driving, was discovered six days later on October 18th, parked and locked in Lot D at the Philadelphia International Airport. This discovery deepened the mystery, leaving his loved ones to grapple with the unnerving silence and the unanswered questions surrounding his sudden and unexplained absence.
At the time he vanished, James was described as a white male with brown hair and hazel eyes, standing at 5'11' and weighing around 150 pounds.
He had a few distinguishing marks, including a horizontal scar on his left eyebrow and a skin discoloration on his left knee. He had also previously fractured his upper left arm and his right collarbone. On the day he was last seen, he was wearing a white button-down oxford shirt, a tan v-neck sweater, a light brown zip-up jacket, off-white slacks, and brown suede loafers. Notably, it is believed that he had a significant amount of cash, reportedly $1100, in his possession when he disappeared. These details paint a picture of the young man who seemingly vanished into thin air, leaving behind a life and a family who awaited his return.
The investigation into James Hires's disappearance has spanned decades, yet definitive answers remain elusive. The circumstances of his disappearance are considered unknown, and while foul play has not been ruled out, there is also speculation that he may have left on his own accord. This theory is supported by the fact that his car was found at an airport and that he was carrying a substantial amount of money. There was a potential sighting of James in San Francisco, California, sometime in 1983, but this has never been confirmed. Despite the passage of time, the case remains open, a lingering source of pain and uncertainty for his family. The Cherry Hill Police Department continues to be the primary investigating agency, holding out hope that one day, information will surface that finally explains what happened to James William Hires.Last Seen: Oct 12, 1981
