Lawrence Edward Verdell was 20 when he left his Camden, New Jersey home on the morning of March 3, 1979 after asking his mother for a few dollars. He never returned and was not reported missing until May 17, 1979. Reports say he had recently been discharged from the U.S. military and sustained a brain injury during his service; the circumstances of that injury and his discharge are not widely known.

He is described as a Black male, five feet five inches tall, about 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray tweed coat, gray shirt, gray pants and black shoes. The initial investigation produced few leads and the case grew cold, though the Camden County Police Department continues to list him as missing.