James Charles Stanford was 16 when he was last heard from on or around May 1, 1971. He was six feet three inches tall, about 125 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes. Records differ on his last known location: the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children lists Clinton, Oklahoma, while another database places him in Overland, Missouri, where the Overland Police Department has kept the case open.

Family members say James talked about leaving home to travel to either Texas or California with the intention of joining a convent, and communication stopped after he shared that plan. Very few concrete details exist about how he might have travelled or where exactly he hoped to go. Some online discussion references a possible 1972 yearbook photo, which, if verified, would suggest sightings after the listed disappearance date; that point remains unresolved. Age-progressed images have been circulated to seek leads.

If anyone knew James, saw him in Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, or California in 1971–72, or has information about his planned travels, please come forward.