William Dean Ponder, who went by Dean, vanished from Chesnee, South Carolina after a night out on August 28, 1993. Friends say they dropped the 41-year-old at the Martin Feed Mill at Parris Bridge Road and Martin Camp Road; he was never seen again. His father reported him missing on September 2. At the time he was described as a white male with red hair, blue eyes, a beard, 5 feet 10 inches, about 190 pounds, wearing eyeglasses, a t-shirt, faded blue jeans and sneakers.
Investigators noted he had been released from prison two months earlier and was dealing with depression, though not on medication. His record included drug and alcohol offenses, property crimes and weapons violations. Authorities treated his disappearance as suspicious and, in 2006, a former acquaintance told police he had been murdered, but no arrests followed. Ponder has been declared legally dead, but his body has never been found and the circumstances of that August night remain unresolved.
If anyone knew Dean, saw him near Parris Bridge Road on August 28, 1993, or has information about his disappearance, please come forward.