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Crime Solvers Central
302 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 (MP454) and 9 other sources
In the quiet town of Acworth, Georgia, the evening of November 18, 2004, marked the last time 38-year-old Stephen Lankester-Cox was seen by his family. At approximately 10:00 p.m., while at his mother's home on Walden Lane, Stephen received a phone call. His mother overheard him mention seeing the headlights of a vehicle pulling into the driveway. Stephen, also known as Steve Cox, then left the residence with an unidentified person or persons, stating he was going to the store and would be back shortly. He was never seen or heard from again. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing jeans, a checkered dress shirt over a blue t-shirt, and a pinky ring with a small tiger eye.

Stephen is described as a white male with brown, curly hair and blue eyes, standing at 6 feet 1 inch to 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing between 170 and 185 pounds. He has several distinguishing physical features, including a pierced left ear, a six-inch scar on his left elbow from a previous injury that required the insertion of metal screws, and a noticeable limp due to a prior fracture of his right kneecap. He also has two tattoos: a rose on his upper chest and a crown of thorns around his upper left arm. Although Stephen owned a black and silver 1988 Ford Thunderbird, he did not take the vehicle with him the night he disappeared; it was left at his mother's home.

The investigation into Stephen's disappearance took a turn when authorities received information suggesting he may have been planning to rob a gaming establishment in Cobb County on the night he went missing. It is believed by law enforcement that his disappearance is the result of foul play and that he may have been killed during the robbery attempt or shortly thereafter. A few weeks after he vanished, on January 1, 2005, one of his Harley-Davidson boots was discovered in a wooded area near his home. His mother officially reported him missing on November 22, 2004, after his probation officer informed her that Stephen had missed an appointment. Despite the passage of time and an ongoing investigation, no charges have been filed in connection with his disappearance, and the case remains unsolved.

Last Seen: Nov 18, 2004

Possible Unidentified Matches (2)

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.

80%Moderate
John Doe — Birchwood, Tennessee - unidentified case UP8189
John Doe — Birchwood, Tennessee
UP8189 • Found Aug 28, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 78%90 mi away
TimingFound 21 months after last seen
Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"–6'3"
Weight 100%190 lb vs 170–185 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Huntsville, Alabama
UP11867 • Found Dec 8, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 71%118 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'1"–6'3"
Weight 90%212 lb vs 170–185 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue

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.