Account
Jan 08, 2021
Jan 19, 2021
James
Zeno
65
59
67 inches
128 lbs
Black / African American
Male
In the community of Lake Charles, Louisiana, a familiar face known to many as "Old School," "Pop," or "Zeek" has been missing since the winter of 2017. James Zeno, a then 59-year-old man, was last seen on December 15, a date that now marks the beginning of a prolonged and sorrowful period of uncertainty for his family and friends. Zeno was experiencing homelessness at the time of his disappearance and was a frequent presence along Highway 14, a stretch of road that held the rhythm of his daily life. His typical attire was simple and consistent: a white t-shirt and jeans. Though he was a regular sight for many in the area, the details of his last known interactions remain unclear, leaving a void in the narrative of his life and disappearance. The Lake Charles Police Department opened an investigation into his case, designated with the number 18-293, nearly a month after he was last seen, on January 8, 2018. James Zeno is described as a Black / African American male, standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 128 pounds at the time he went missing. He had a bald head and brown eyes, and may have had a beard. His appearance was further distinguished by several unique tattoos and scars that told a story of his life. He had a tattoo of a cross between his eyebrows and the nickname "Zeek" tattooed across his chest. Additionally, he carried the marks of his past with a horizontal scar across his forehead and another scar on his thigh. These physical details create a clearer picture of the man who vanished, a man with a history and a presence that is now deeply missed. Despite the passage of time, these identifiers remain a crucial part of the effort to locate him, a collection of details that might spark a memory or lead to a breakthrough in his case. The investigation into James Zeno's disappearance has been a long and arduous one, with his case being entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) under case number MP76969 on January 8, 2021. This step brought national attention to his case, broadening the search and the plea for information. His family has endured years of waiting and wondering, holding onto hope for answers. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance, particularly his status as a person experiencing homelessness, add a layer of complexity to the search, highlighting the vulnerabilities faced by this community. The overview of this case is one of a man who was a part of the Lake Charles landscape, a person with nicknames and a familiar routine, who one day was simply no longer there. The lack of concrete leads and the indefinite nature of his absence create a painful and unresolved chapter in the lives of those who knew him.
Dec 15, 2017
Lake Charles
Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish
No
97254
Lake Charles Police Department
Lake Charles
Louisiana
Calcasieu Parish
70601
830 Enterprise Boulevard, Lake Charles, LA 70601, Louisiana
3374911311
Local
Law Enforcement
18-293
2018-01-08
Lake Charles Police Department
Bald
Brown
Brown
06/02/2026
