Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP8845) and 8 other sources
John Clinton Bankston, a 17-year-old from Dallas, Texas, was last seen on July 13, 1987, during a tragic accident involving a flash flood near Comfort, Texas. Bankston was one of 43 individuals, mainly teenagers from Seagoville Road Baptist Church, who were leaving a church camp at Pot O' Gold Ranch when their bus and van were swept away by rising waters of the Guadalupe River. Despite his efforts to help others during the chaos, including saving a friend with a broken leg, Bankston was ultimately swept away by the floodwaters and has been missing ever since. His body was never recovered, making him the only one of the ten victims from that day whose remains were not found.

Bankston is remembered as a hero by witnesses who reported that he prioritized the safety of others before himself. The search for his body continued for several weeks, involving hundreds of volunteers and officials, but was eventually called off, leaving his family without closure. Despite the passage of time, John Bankston is still listed as a missing person, with his case classified as "lost, injured, and missing".

Last Seen: Jul 13, 1987