On the morning of May 19, 1995, Male Rex Casper, a 41-year-old Gunnery Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps, was last seen in Norfolk, Virginia. He had dropped his daughter off at Sherwood Forrest Elementary School and was expected to arrive at his job at 9:00 a.m. but never did. Casper did not return to his home and has not been heard from since. This marked the beginning of a long and perplexing mystery for his family and investigators. Just six months away from his retirement after a career spanning nineteen and a half years, his disappearance was completely out of character. Casper was described as a skilled auto mechanic who was generally private about his personal life. He had a history of alcohol abuse and had gone through a rehabilitation program before he vanished.
Eleven days after he was last seen, on May 30, 1995, Casper's 1986 Ford van was found abandoned in Norfolk. The discovery of the vehicle only deepened the mystery.
The van was unlocked with the keys in the ignition. Inside, his wallet was found on the back seat, open to a photograph of his family. His driver's license and a long-distance calling card were also on the seat, but his military identification was missing. Investigators noted that the ashtray was filled with cigarette butts and there was sand on the driver's side floor, which was uncharacteristic for Casper, who was known to keep his vehicle clean and tidy. This led investigators to believe that the scene inside the van may have been staged. Financial investigations revealed that on the day of his disappearance, his ATM card was used around 9:00 a.m. The first transaction was declined for insufficient funds, but a small amount, less than $20, was withdrawn in a second attempt. In the days leading up to his disappearance, there had been a series of withdrawals and transfers from his account, totaling about $600 from travel advances for work he had not yet undertaken.
At the time of his disappearance, Casper was in his second marriage, which was reportedly troubled with allegations of infidelity. Shortly after he went missing, his wife attempted suicide. Despite the problems in their marriage, she did not believe he would have willingly abandoned his children, to whom he was very close. Casper, originally from Rigby, Idaho, was eventually declared legally dead by his wife. He has several distinguishing marks, including a three-inch scar on his right knee, a scar on his left elbow, and a tattoo of Casper the Ghost on his left arm. There were also rumors of a Marine bulldog tattoo, though the location is unknown and his family has not confirmed its existence. The case of Rex Casper's disappearance remains open and unsolved, leaving his loved ones without answers about what happened to the dedicated Marine who seemingly vanished without a trace. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.Last Seen: May 19, 1995
