277 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Willard Branch

Case from Houston, TX dated Aug 17, 1972

Victim Details

Name

Willard Branch

Gender

Male

Race

White / Caucasian

City

Houston

State

Date Of Death

1972-08-17

Age At Death

First Name

Willard

Last Name

Branch

Last Updated

08/22/2026

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!

In the fall of 1972, a 17-year-old White male named Willard Karmon "Rusty" Branch Jr. vanished while trying to make his way back to Houston, Texas. Known to hitchhike, Willard was last seen in November of that year, setting off a frantic search by his family. The weight of his son's disappearance proved too much for Willard's father, a Houston police officer, who tragically suffered a fatal heart attack during the desperate search for his boy. For a long time, Willard's fate remained a painful m ...

MEMBER ACCESS

Continue reading the complete case summary

Unlock the full case narrative for Willard Branch, all available source links, additional videos, and member discussions.

Unlock Full Case Access — $3.97/month

Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in

Links to Additional Sources (6)

See any mistakes? Let us know!

Dean Corll - Wikipedia

Rusty Branch | Unidentified Wiki | Fandom

MEMBER ACCESS

Unlock 4 additional sources

View the complete collection of available reporting and reference links for this case.

View All Case Sources — $3.97/month

Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in

Willard Branch

Case from Houston, TX dated Aug 17, 1972

Victim Details

Case Description

Continue reading the complete case summary

Links to Additional Sources (6)

Unlock 4 additional sources

Latest News

Truck computer contains clues to motive in murder, prosecutors say

Victims maimed by Grand Central machete madman seek to sue city for failing to keep riders safe from ‘Lucifer’

Lily Mae Huff & Eva Hale: Vulnerable & Vanished

Missing Colorado Man Conor Anderson Found Deceased in Nashville

How an oil trail led to suspect in South Carolina hit-and-run homicide

Teen shot dead during high school football game in Bakersfield

Manhattan DA urges NYC's low-income workers to report wage theft

Bail-hating NYC judge has knack for cutting accused criminals loose — even in attempted-slay cases: damning Post review

Houston Uber driver gets roped into police car chase

Maniac fires wildly on Brooklyn street, shooting dog that miraculously survived

Forum Posts (3)

Join the discussion for Willard Branch

Other Cases from Houston, Texas