Ricardo D. James, 40, disappeared from St. Louis on October 28, 2011 after meeting a woman at her apartment while he had his two young children with him. According to the children, they last saw their father leave with an unknown individual in a car and he never returned. He had sole custody of the children and was described by family as a protective, hardworking father employed at a nursing home who attended church and did not use alcohol or drugs.

The woman Ricardo had gone to see, Shanunikia N. Pierce, later told the children she was taking them to their father but instead drove them to a vacant house in Granite City, Illinois and left them there; neighbors found the children more than 24 hours later and Pierce was charged with felony child abandonment. Pierce disappeared for a time in February 2012 but was later located. The last known place Ricardo was seen is an apartment in the 4700 block of Ashland Court; he had been living on the 5900 block of Cote Brilliante.

The investigation is open with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department and the circumstances of Ricardo James’s disappearance remain unresolved. Does anyone with information about Ricardo, the Ashland Court apartment, or movements on October 28, 2011 have details to share?