Alan Burl, a 37-year-old Black man from LaPlace, Louisiana and owner of a local recording studio, was last seen the evening of October 29, 2015, getting into an unfamiliar vehicle at his Gardenia Drive residence. His sister reported him missing on November 2 after the family had not heard from him for several days. He was described as about six feet 1 inch, 180 pounds, with short, wavy black hair, wearing a black T-shirt, black pants and Reebok tennis shoes.

On November 12 deputies from the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office located a body in a wooded area along U.S. 51 north of LaPlace in the Ruddock community. The remains required dental records for identification. An autopsy determined Burl had been shot and his death was ruled a homicide, the parish’s fifth that year. Authorities did not release details about the wounds and, in late 2015, no suspects had been identified; investigators asked the public for tips.

Did anyone in the LaPlace or Ruddock area see Alan or the unfamiliar vehicle around October 29 who could help the investigation?