On a June evening in 1990, 16-year-old Mark William Seelman disappeared from Rome, New York. He was a young man with his life ahead of him, last seen with his 18-year-old coworker, Douglas Goodwin. The two were spotted at DJ's Bar on Martin Street late on the night of June 7th or in the early morning hours of June 8th. Mark was last seen wearing a black T-shirt with an eagle emblem on it, a jean vest, blue jeans, and black and red sneakers. He had the letters 'TLC' tattooed on his upper right arm, a scar on his shin, and his left ear was pierced. That evening, Mark and Douglas were reportedly seen in the parking lot of the bar talking to an unknown man. It has been suggested they may have left in a green, late 1970s model Chevrolet Malibu or Nova.
The circumstances surrounding Mark's disappearance have led his family to believe that he did not leave on his own and they suspect foul play was involved.
This belief is strengthened by the fact that he left all of his personal belongings behind. The days leading up to his disappearance seemed ordinary. The Friday before he went missing, Mark got off the school bus and told his mother he was going shopping with friends and would be back the next day to help around the house. When he didn't return over the weekend, his mother initially thought he had just stayed at a friend's house. His friend, Douglas Goodwin, was described as living a transient lifestyle at the time. He had been staying with his girlfriend, who was pregnant with their child, but they had an argument shortly before he vanished, and he was supposed to move out. He never returned to collect his things.
Over the many years that have passed, the case has grown cold, with few substantial leads. A flicker of hope emerged in 2001 when an individual in Missouri was found using Mark's name and Social Security number. However, this lead turned into a dead end when authorities confirmed the person had stolen Mark's identity and was not the missing teenager. The disappearance of Mark Seelman and Douglas Goodwin remains an unsolved mystery. Decades later, their families continue to search for answers, holding onto the hope that one day they will know what happened to their loved ones. The New York State Police continue to investigate the case of the two missing young men.Last Seen: Jun 7, 1990
