Mark Wayne Adamson was 36 years old when he was last seen on July 8, 1995, in Barstow, California. He was in the parking lot of a Walmart located in the 600 block of Montara Road at approximately 1:30 p.m. Adamson was in the company of Joseph Riley, and they were observed getting into a maroon-colored American model sedan, possibly with a third individual. Adamson's roommate informed authorities that Adamson and Riley had left with a significant amount of cash with the intention of purchasing a vehicle. Neither Adamson nor Riley have been seen or heard from since. At the time of his disappearance, Adamson was described as a white male, 6'2" tall, weighing 260 pounds, with brown, thinning hair and hazel eyes. He may have had a beard and mustache and was last seen wearing blue jeans, a t-shirt, and a Giants hat.
Authorities suspect foul play in the disappearances of both Adamson and Riley. The investigation into their cases led law enforcement to believe their disappearances were drug-related and that they were likely murdered and buried in the Mojave Desert. In December 2012, a significant development occurred when Christian Leonard Bunty Sr. and James Linzy Franklin were charged with the murders of Adamson and Riley. Franklin was already serving a life sentence for an unrelated home invasion robbery and murder. Authorities theorized that the suspects had lured Adamson and Riley with the offer of selling them $9,000 worth of ephedrine, an ingredient used to manufacture methamphetamine, with the intention of robbing and killing them.
The legal proceedings following the charges saw several developments. In December 2013, Steven Michael Dondero, Franklin's nephew, was also arrested and faced the same murder charges. However, in the spring of 2014, the murder charges against Christian Bunty were dropped due to a lack of evidence. In March 2015, Steven Dondero pleaded guilty to being an accessory to a felony and received a two-year prison sentence, with the murder charges against him being dismissed. Finally, in September 2015, James Linzy Franklin was convicted on both counts of murder. Despite the conviction, the bodies of Mark Wayne Adamson and Joseph Riley have never been located.
Last Seen: Jul 08, 1995
