John Clifton Ballenger, 20, of Satellite Beach, Florida, was last seen on June 26, 1977 — his birthday. He was on a double date at a local theater to see Star Wars and went to the restroom during the film; he never returned. At the time he carried about $15 in cash and was wearing a light blue pullover shirt, dark blue pants, and beige suede shoes.

Ballenger had been struggling with unemployment and substance abuse before he vanished, and investigators considered that he might have walked away voluntarily. The disappearance is complicated by two close friends who were violently beaten around the same time, an incident linked possibly to local drug activity, which left open the possibility of foul play. His family had him declared legally dead in 1990, but no conclusive evidence has established what happened.

He graduated from Satellite Beach High School. If anyone has memories of that night at the theater, saw John afterward, or has information about the assaults on his friends, please share what is known.