On a fall afternoon in 1981, 18-year-old James William Hires walked out of his parents’ home in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, saying he was going to pick up his brother. He left at about 2:30 p.m. on October 12 and was driving the family car. When his brother called their parents around 4:00 p.m. James had not arrived and did not make contact afterward.

Six days later, on October 18, the family car was found parked and locked in Lot D at Philadelphia International Airport. At the time he vanished James was described as a white male, brown hair, hazel eyes, 5 feet 11 inches and about 150 pounds, with a horizontal scar on his left eyebrow, skin discoloration on his left knee, a past upper left arm fracture and a right collarbone fracture. He was wearing a white button-down oxford, tan v-neck sweater, light brown zip-up jacket, off-white slacks and brown suede loafers, and reportedly had about $1,100 in cash.

The Cherry Hill Police Department still lists the case as open. Foul play has not been ruled out, but there has also been speculation he may have left voluntarily; an unconfirmed sighting in San Francisco in 1983 has been reported. Does anyone have information about James’s movements in October 1981 or possible sightings after then?