Jason Edward Thornton Townsend was 3 years old when he vanished from Lauderhill, Florida, on May 20, 1980. His mother, Augusta Walker, had left him in the care of her boyfriend, Roscoe Pierce, while she worked. Pierce said the boy wandered off during a trip to a nearby convenience store that afternoon.

Pierce’s actions after the disappearance prompted suspicion. The day after Jason went missing he removed plastic sheeting and two duffel bags from the apartment; when Walker pressed him about the child he fled. Investigators later learned Pierce was a fugitive from New York who had been using the alias Emerson Blatch and was wanted for sexually abusing a young girl. Two days after Jason disappeared Florida authorities located Pierce; during his apprehension he reached for an officer’s gun and was fatally shot. Pierce did not disclose Jason’s whereabouts before he died.

No trace of Jason Townsend has been found and the case remains open. If anyone knew Jason, his family, or saw anything in Lauderhill around May 20, 1980, please come forward with information.