Marty Lancaster was a 14-year-old Caucasian boy who was found dead near the Illinois Central Gulf Railroad tracks in Normal, Illinois, on July 14, 1978. He had been reported missing after last being seen on June 11, 1978, leaving a neighbor’s home to go to a local billiard supply store. His body was in an overgrown, debris-strewn area with rusted appliances; extreme summer heat had accelerated decomposition and investigators judged he had been dead for weeks.

A preliminary autopsy recorded multiple skull fractures, including a broken jawbone, and authorities classified the death as a homicide. Technicians and detectives worked to identify the remains using dental records, clothing, and fingerprints, and witnesses and neighbors were interviewed to reconstruct his movements. No arrests or charges were directly linked to the murder.

Transient William Freight Train Guatney was considered a suspect and was associated with violent crimes against young boys in several states; he was later declared unfit for trial and committed to a mental institution, where he died. Does anyone have information about Marty’s last known movements or about that area of the railroad tracks in June 1978?