Account
Mar 02, 2022
Jan 12, 2024
William
Hart
37
34
60 inches
125 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
William Joseph Hart, a 34-year-old man from Newell, West Virginia, disappeared under troubling circumstances in the fall of 2021. His last known whereabouts were in East Liverpool, Ohio, where a sequence of events led to his vanishing. The evening began with a traffic stop on State Route 7, initiated by the St. Clair Township police. During the stop, officers discovered that Hart had an outstanding warrant. As they were taking him into custody, a concern arose that he may have ingested something, prompting the officers to prioritize his health over immediate incarceration. An ambulance was called, and Hart was transported to East Liverpool City Hospital for a medical evaluation to prevent a potential overdose. Police informed Hart that leaving the hospital would result in a felony escape charge and placed a hold on him to be taken into custody upon his release. The situation took a sharp turn when, approximately ten minutes after his arrival, the hospital alerted law enforcement that Hart had fled the facility. A search was initiated by both the East Liverpool and St. Clair Township police departments. Officers spotted Hart near State Route 39, where he was seen running and jumping over a fence, heading in the direction of the Ohio River. A search of the riverbank area involving three different agencies was conducted, but they were unable to locate him. Hart was last seen wearing a black "Snap-on" brand hoodie and a white baseball cap worn backward. He has several distinct tattoos, including musical notes on his forehead, the name "Serena" on the right side of his neck, and the words "Fear no evil" across his fingers. He also has a round scar on his left shoulder and walks with a slight limp. The aftermath of Hart's disappearance has been fraught with anguish and questions for his family. His sister, Melisa Michael, has voiced significant concerns about the initial search efforts, stating that law enforcement only looked for her brother for a brief period of 39 minutes. She expressed her distress after viewing body camera footage from that night, which she felt showed a lack of professional urgency. Michael believes that more extensive resources, such as K-9 units and boats, should have been deployed immediately. In the time since he was last seen, there has been no contact from Hart with any family members or friends, deepening the mystery and the pain of his absence. The case is being handled by the Hancock County Sheriff's Department, and despite the passage of time, the investigation continues with detectives from both St. Clair Township and Hancock County reportedly in communication regarding any potential leads. The disappearance of William Hart remains an unresolved and deeply concerning case, leaving his loved ones to grapple with the unknown and the hope that they will one day find answers.
Nov 22, 2021
East Liverpool
Ohio
Columbiana County
No
112862
Hancock County Sheriff’s Department
New Cumberland
West Virginia
Hancock County
26047
104 North Court Street, West Virginia
3045643911
County
Law Enforcement
120211102501
2021-11-26
Hancock County Sheriff’s Department
na
Blond/Strawberry
Blue
Blue
05/20/2026
