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Michael Rustin Missing Person Case

Last seen in Salisbury, North Carolina on Apr 19, 2009

Victim Details

Jan 12, 2010

Dec 20, 2023

Michael

Rustin

50

33

69 inches

155 lbs

Black / African American

Male

Apr 19, 2009

Salisbury

North Carolina

Rowan County

No

8109

Salisbury Police Department

Salisbury

North Carolina

Rowan County

28144

130 E Liberty, North Carolina

7046385333

Local

Law Enforcement

2009-001537

Salisbury Police Department

Black

Brown

Brown

Oct 13, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP4695) and 9 other sources
On a spring evening in Salisbury, North Carolina, 33-year-old Michael Maurice Rustin’s life took an alarming and mysterious turn. On April 19, 2009, he was last seen at the Latin Mix convenience store located in the 900 block of Fulton Avenue. Surveillance footage captured him pulling into the parking lot and getting out of his own vehicle. Shortly after, Rustin was reportedly seen getting into a blue Chevrolet Impala with two Hispanic men. When he failed to return home, his girlfriend and sister went to the convenience store to look for him. They discovered his car abandoned in the lot with his identification and other personal belongings still inside; only his cell phone was missing. He was officially reported missing to the Salisbury Police Department at 11:30 p.m. that night and has not been heard from since.

The initial investigation into Rustin's disappearance was treated as a possible kidnapping. Authorities believe he was taken against his will by the men in the blue Impala. An investigative lead emerged from the surveillance video, which showed a Hispanic man entering Rustin's vehicle and removing an unknown item. At the time of his disappearance, Rustin was wearing a light gray and white Dickies t-shirt, dark gray sweatpants, black boots, and a distinctive beaded African necklace. He is described as a Black male, 5'9' and 155 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He has numerous tattoos, including the word 'Metro' on his chest, a 'G' representing life on his right arm, a sword on his right forearm, and the words 'Top Shottas' on his upper left arm.

Years have passed without any resolution, and the case has grown cold, though not forgotten by investigators who suspect foul play was involved. In September 2015, a significant development led law enforcement to act on a new tip. Agents with the State Bureau of Investigation, assisting Salisbury Police, excavated an old, 50-foot deep well under an abandoned house in Caldwell County, roughly 80 miles from where Rustin was last seen. Despite the intensive search effort, the dig yielded no evidence or remains connected to the case. The disappearance of Michael Rustin remains an unsolved and troubling mystery. The core facts of the case are that he vanished from a convenience store parking lot after being seen with two unidentified men, leaving his car and personal effects behind. Despite a promising lead years later that resulted in a significant search operation, no trace of him has been found, and his family is left without answers.
Last Seen: Apr 19, 2009

Links to Additional Sources (9)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Police: SBI assisting in cold case of missing Salisbury man Michael ...
  • No remains found in well after SBI follows lead on missing-person ...
  • Police: Search for missing Salisbury man in Lenoir, nothing found
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP4695 - Office of Justice Programs
  • Search for Salisbury man - WBTV
  • Michael Maurice Rustin - The Charley Project
  • Michael Maurice Rustin - The CUE Center for Missing Persons
  • What happened to Michael Rustin? [Unresolved Disappearance]
  • NC - Michael Rustin, 33, Salisbury, 19 April 2009 - Websleuths

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    76%Possible
    John Doe — Statesville, North Carolina - unidentified case UP12487
    John Doe — Statesville, North Carolina
    UP12487 • Found Dec 13, 2010
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 64%Est. 40–65 vs 33 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 96%24 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 20 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (3)

    Has anyone looked into the type of car Michael got into before disappearing? It seems like a pretty... ...Read More
    11/30/2024
    Has anyone else noticed how strange it is that Michael Maurice Rustin's cell phone was the only... ...Read More
    08/29/2024
    Does anyone else think Michael Rustin's tattoos could be a key to solving this? It's been over a... ...Read More
    03/19/2024

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