Jim Wood
Real Name: James Wood
Nicknames: Jim
Location: Catonsville, Maryland
Date: 1987
Bio[]
Occupation: Driving Instructor, Coach
Date of Birth: approx. 1943
Height: 5'9"
Weight: 170 pounds
Marital Status: Single
Characteristics: Caucasian male with with brown hair and brown eyes.
Case[]
Details: Jim Wood of Catonsville, Maryland was a promising young baseball player. He was a pitcher known for throwing no-hitters. In the mid-1960s, he was scouted to play for the Pittsburgh Pirates; however, a stint in the Vietnam War interrupted his dream. He joined the Army as a Green Beret and was sent to Vietnam. One day in 1968, he vanished while with the Green Berets. He was later declared "missing and presumed dead". For two years, there was no word on his whereabouts. It was believed that he had either been killed or became a prisoner of war.
Surprisingly, one day in 1970, Jim showed up at his friend Scott Miller's home. Scott noticed that Jim had changed greatly. His spirit had been "dampened" and he was much more serious. His war injuries made a career in baseball impossible. He settled instead for being a coach. However, nothing could ease his physical and mental pain.
In 1987, Jim left his home, telling Scott and his father that he needed to go away for awhile. He didn't tell them where he was going, but he said that he would stay in touch. He never returned and his family and friends have been unable to find him. Scott believes that Jim left out of shame and confusion due to his wartime experiences. With Jim's eighty-five-year-old father James Sr. in failing health, Scott is doing everything possible to find him and reunite him with his father before he passes away.
Another one of Jim's close friends, Louisa Buckingham, has frequently written to him through the Veteran's Association. In September of 1998, she received a mysterious postcard saying, "Enjoy your cruise", which was signed "Jim" and had a Phoenix postmark. Jim's father believes that it was written by him. However, he still has not been found.
Suspects: Foul play is not suspected in his disappearance.
Extra Notes: This case first aired on the June 11, 1999 episode.
Results: Unsolved. If he is still alive, Jim would now be seventy-seven-years-old.
Links:
- Jim Wood on Unsolved Archive
- Jim Wood on The Charley Project
- Jim Wood on Missing Veterans
- Long after Vietnam War, sorrow it brought lives on - October 22, 1998
