Michael James Gaughan was 17 when he was last heard from on July 20, 1975. At 7:15 a.m. he called his parents from a pay phone in El Paso, Texas, saying he had car trouble and would arrive home later that day in New Mexico. He never made it home.

On July 22 the vehicle he had been driving was found abandoned in the desert west of Las Cruces, New Mexico. An extensive search turned up no sign of Michael, and he has been missing since. He was described as 5 feet 7 inches to 5 feet 8 inches, 135 to 145 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes, a chipped front tooth, and a zig-zag scar and possible homemade tattoo on his left forearm. Foul play is suspected but no solid leads have emerged.

If anyone knew Michael, saw him in El Paso or along the route to Las Cruces around July 20, 1975, or has information that could help investigators, please come forward.