Richard Burks Hart, known by his middle name Burks, was 61 when he walked away from Fort Roots Veterans Hospital in North Little Rock on May 1, 1985. A World War II veteran whose service appears to have precipitated schizophrenia, he had been an inpatient and had a history of wandering to the local bus station and riding to Memphis to visit his wife and two daughters. On earlier occasions hospital staff contacted his wife and he returned, but this time he never reached Memphis and was not heard from again.

Records give a birth year of either 1921 or 1923. He was described as a white man, nearly bald, with dark brown eyes. Because of his severe medical condition his family and authorities believe he could not have survived long on his own; what he was wearing or carrying when he left the hospital is unknown. The Fort Roots Veterans Hospital Police Department investigated but no significant leads emerged.

If anyone in North Little Rock or Memphis remembers seeing Burks Hart after May 1, 1985, please come forward with information.