Missing
John Len Taylor
Taylor, approximately 1999
Date and time person was reported missing : 05/21/1999
Missing location (approx) :
Gary, Indiana
Missing classification : Endangered Missing
Gender : Male
Ethnicity :
Black
DOB : 04/16/1951 (70)
Age at the time of disappearance: 48 years old
Height / Weight : 5'10, 150 pounds
Description, clothing, jewerly and more : Blue or gray pants, a blue and white shirt, a black and gray jacket, and a silver watch.
Medical conditions : Taylor was shot in the year prior to his disappearance and has medical problems as a result.
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: African-American male. Black hair, brown eyes. Taylor has surgical scars on his abdomen and on the back of his neck.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Taylor was last seen walking in the vicinity of the 3900 block of Adams Street in Gary, Indiana on May 21, 1999. He walked a regular route between Glen Park and the Dorie Miller housing projects along Broadway and 21st Avenue, where his girlfriend lived, at the time of his disappearance. He enjoyed the walk and would refuse any rides offered him.
On the day of his disappearance, Taylor went to his girlfriend's residence and got into an argument with someone there. He said he was going out for a walk and to get some fresh air. Taylor never returned home from his walk and has never been heard from again.
During one of his walks in 1998, Taylor was shot from behind and left for dead. He underwent surgery for his wound and developed medical problems afterward. The shooter was never identified. Authorities suspect foul play was involved in Taylor's disappearance, but it's unclear whether it was related to the previous shooting. It remains unsolved.
Other information and links : ncy
Gary Police Department
219-881-1209
September 2021 updates and sources
A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are not known. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2�5% of missing children in Europe.
By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends.
Several organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and imAge at the time of disappearance: s of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.
The Post-Tribune
October 12, 2004. May 31, 2008; Description, clothing, jewerly and more : and Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : updated.
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
