Wayne Kareem Goff was 17 when he left his home in the Mattapan neighborhood of Boston on May 20, 1997, and never returned. He is described as a Black male, 5 feet 4 inches tall, about 120 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a tattoo on his right arm reading Hill, Boy Z. His departure had no clear explanation and there was no indication he intended to be away long-term.

The Boston Police Department handled the initial inquiry. Over time the case was entered into national missing persons systems; the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children produced posters including age‑progressed images showing what he might have looked like at 28 and later at 34. DNA from his mother and sister was entered into national databases to assist identification if remains are ever recovered.

No confirmed sightings, breakthroughs, or public leads have been reported, and the investigation remains open. If anyone knew Wayne, saw him in or around Mattapan in May 1997, or has information about his whereabouts, please come forward.