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Kipling Hess III Missing Person Case

Last seen in Merritt Island, Florida on Mar 27, 1979

Victim Details

Dec 21, 2009

Mar 02, 2023

Kipling

Hess III

59

12

64 inches

90 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Mar 27, 1979

Merritt Island

Florida

Brevard County

3367

Brevard County Sheriff's Office

Titusville

Florida

Brevard County

32780

700 Park Ave., Florida

3216338419

County

Law Enforcement

79-11702

Brevard County Sheriff's Office

na

Brown

Brown

Brown

07/01/2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Kipling "Kip" Hess III, a 12-year-old boy from Merritt Island, Florida, disappeared on the morning of March 27, 1979, while walking to school. He left behind a note at his home that read, "Goodbye, Mom and Dad," which added to the mystery of his sudden disappearance. Kip never arrived at school and was never seen again. His case quickly became one of the more chilling missing persons cases in Florida.

John Rodney McRae, a convicted murderer, emerged as the prime susp ...
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Last Seen: Mar 27, 1979

Links to Additional Sources (4)

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  • 199DMFL - Kipling Randolph Hess III - Doe Network
  • 199DMFL - Kipling Randolph Hess - Doe Network
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    Forum Posts (3)

    Has anyone else found it odd how John Rodney McRae seemed to insert himself into the search efforts ... ...Read More
    12/25/2024
    I recently came across Kipling Hess III's case again and was struck by the role John Rodney McRae pl... ...Read More
    01/20/2024
    Has anyone looked into the possibility of a connection between Kip’s disappearance and other missi... ...Read More
    03/01/2023
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