An 81-year-old man, William L. Howell Jr., vanished on March 5, 2009, after he was last seen at the Bel Aire Recreation Center in Bel Aire, Kansas. At the time of his disappearance, Howell was described as a white male, standing 5'8" and weighing 140 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a tan jacket, a shirt, pants, and white sneakers.
Howell had several distinguishing characteristics, including a scar on his chest from heart surgery and a broken ring finger on his left hand. He also walked with a limp due to a recent hip injury and used a cane. Howell was fluent in Spanish and was known to sometimes associate with the Hispanic community.
Howell lived with health conditions that made his disappearance particularly concerning. He suffered from diabetes, for which he required medication, and also had dementia, which could cause him to become disoriented. Despite his health issues, Howell was known to be independent. He frequently hitchhiked from the Bel Aire area to northeast Wichita, Kansas. From there, he would often take a city bus downtown to visit friends who lived in the 900 block of North Topeka. It was not unusual for him to go on overnight trips to see friends, but he had never been gone for an extended period. He had a small amount of cash with him when he was last seen.
The circumstances surrounding William L. Howell Jr.'s disappearance have led investigators to suspect foul play. While few details about the investigation have been made public, his case is classified as an endangered missing person. The Bel Aire Police Department is the investigating agency responsible for his case. Over the years, there has been no significant information released that might explain his sudden disappearance. His case remains an unresolved mystery, leaving behind questions and concerns for his well-being. The lack of available information and the passage of time have made this a challenging case for law enforcement.Last Seen: Mar 5, 2009
