John Woodrow Flowers, 44, was last seen March 1, 1991, walking along Interstate 85 in Bessemer City, North Carolina. He lived a transient lifestyle and was reportedly heading west; family sometimes knew him by the nickname John Gaton. He is described as a white male, 6 feet 1 inch, about 180 pounds, with brown hair, hazel eyes and a scar on his right leg from a prior chainsaw accident. When last seen he wore a T-shirt and blue jeans.

A major complication in this case is the nearly six-year delay before his disappearance was reported to the Gaston County Police Department. That gap has left investigators with few contemporaneous leads and faded witness memories, and it remains central to why the case is still unresolved. If anyone knew John’s movements around March 1991 or recognized the nickname John Gaton, please share what is known with the Gaston County Police Department.