James Russell, Jr.
Real Name: James Michael Russell, Jr.
Case: Lost Brother
Location: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Date: 1985
Case[]
Details: Twenty-one-year-old Heidi Russell is looking for her eighteen-year-old younger brother, James Jr.. In 1985, their mother left their father, James Sr., and he struggled to make ends' meet. He and the children lived in a station wagon converted into a camper. After they learned of the living conditions, authorities went to Heidi's school in Tulsa, Oklahoma and placed her in a shelter in Oklahoma City. James Sr. took James Jr. to California to keep him from being taken away as well.
Days later, Heidi ran away from the shelter and moved in with friends. Soon afterward, she began looking for her family. She located her mother in Texas. She tried getting information about James Jr. from relatives in California, but no one knew where he or James Sr. were. She has been searching for him in vain ever since. He was last seen by a relative in 1989 on a street corner in San Bernardino, California.
Extra Notes:
- This case first aired on the March 4, 1992 episode, as part of a "Lost Love Roll Call" which also included those of Darlene and Davida Ebmeier, Thomas Manion and Steve, Rita and Pamela Madding. It was updated on the December 23, 1992 episode.
- It was excluded from the FilmRise release of the Robert Stack episodes.
Heidi and James reunited
Results: Solved. A viewer called the telecenter after recognizing James Jr.; her coworker is James Sr.. They were living in Rubidoux, California. Three days later, on March 7, 1992, Heidi and James Jr. spoke on the phone for the first time in seven years. One week after the broadcast, on March 12, he flew to her home in Amarillo, Texas; they were reunited at Amarillo International Airport. He was also reunited with their mother. Heidi also made amends with James Sr. and was reunited with him as well. They stayed together for several days before James Sr. and James Jr. returned to California.
Links:
- TV show reunites area man, Texas sister - March 11, 1992
- Brother back from reunion - March 18, 1992