Brian Keith Awalt, known as Sunshine, was 29 when he disappeared from his Spartanburg, South Carolina, apartment complex on July 12, 1991. He was last seen getting into a car with an unidentified, unkempt man with long hair. At the time Brian lived with his common-law wife of five years, her teenage son and their newborn daughter. He had been recently laid off and was earning money from odd jobs; on the day he vanished his only cash came from selling plasma earlier that day and he left without taking clothes or personal belongings.

Brian was described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches, about 160 pounds, with light brown long hair, blue eyes and a blond mustache. Distinctive scars included a two-inch scar on his upper left arm and a scar on the right side of his face below the eye.

His family did not report him missing until August 15, 1991. Authorities say there is no direct evidence of foul play, but his prolonged absence is concerning. In September 2024 the Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office reopened the case; a forensic sketch of the man last seen with Brian was age-progressed after the primary witness provided a more detailed description. If anyone knew Brian, the man he left with, or saw them together on July 12, 1991, please contact investigators.