Jerome Louis White was 22 when he was last seen in Hickory, North Carolina, on February 8, 1997. He was at the Center Place Market on South Center Street and was observed getting into a vehicle with an unidentified white male. At the time he disappeared Jerome wore a blue ball cap, a green coat, and white Fila tennis shoes, and he was carrying his twin brother’s identification because his brother was incarcerated.

Jerome struggled with an addiction to crack cocaine then, and his family said he associated with people unfamiliar to them; it was also uncharacteristic for him to travel far from his mother’s home, which raised concern that foul play may have been involved. The Hickory Police Department continues to investigate and asks anyone with information to come forward.

If anyone knew Jerome, saw him that day, or has information about the vehicle or the man he left with, please share what you know.