In November 1987, a 22-year-old man named Thurlow McFarland Buchanan disappeared from Fort Worth, Texas, leaving behind a perplexing case that has spanned decades. Friends and family described Buchanan as a dependable and hardworking individual with a promising future. He was a graduate of O.D. Wyatt High School and was attending night school to become a plumber, with aspirations of joining his uncle's firm.
Known for being easy-going and popular, he had a close-knit family and would never leave town without informing them of his whereabouts. At the time of his disappearance, Buchanan was a new father, had money in the bank, and was the proud owner of a new 1987 Nissan pickup truck.
Buchanan was last seen on the evening of November 9, 1987, leaving a friend's apartment on Pinson Street in Fort Worth. He was driving his new pickup truck at the time. The alarm was raised when he failed to show up for his plumbing class, an occurrence that was highly out of character for him. His instructor's concerned call to his family was the first indication that something was amiss. The family officially reported him missing to the Fort Worth Police Department on November 13, 1987.
Three days after he was last seen, on November 12, 1987, Buchanan's pickup truck was found abandoned in Houston, Texas, approximately half a mile from the University of Houston campus where his girlfriend was a student. The truck had received a parking ticket. While it was known that Buchanan would visit his girlfriend on weekends, his family found it unusual for him to make the trip mid-week, especially without a change of clothes and with school commitments. Despite the recovery of his vehicle, there were no signs of foul play in or around the truck. Tragically, his family was not immediately notified about the discovery of the truck; they reportedly learned of it a year later when they received a notice that the vehicle was going to be auctioned. Authorities have stated their belief that Buchanan likely met with foul play, though no concrete evidence has emerged to support this theory.
At the time of his disappearance, Thurlow Buchanan was described as a Black male, 5'9" tall, and weighing around 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He had distinct scars on his forehead between his eyes and on his left cheek. Over the years, his case has remained open, with his family continuing to seek answers. The Fort Worth Police Department is the investigating agency for his case.Last Seen: Nov 9, 1987
