Joseph Leon Johnson, a 78-year-old Army veteran, was last seen on January 1, 2008, in Miami. He had been living in the Northside area of Miami-Dade County and was being cared for by a friend, William Merritt, because of declining health. Both men disappeared after a fire destroyed their last known residence in 2009; Merritt has not been officially listed as missing but neither man has been heard from since.

Johnson was originally from New Jersey and had lived in Alabama at times. He frequented the North Miami Beach area. He is described as between 6 feet 0 inches and 6 feet 2 inches, with gray hair, green eyes and prescription eyeglasses. The circumstances of his disappearance remain mysterious and the investigation is active.

Does anyone who knew Joseph or William or who was in Northside or North Miami Beach around 2008–2009 have information to share with the Miami-Dade Police Department?