Travis Baker, 20, missing since 04/16/07 from Taylorsville, NC

[omsk99]

"Dwayne and Patricia Baker haven’t seen their son in four months.

Travis Baker, now 20, was last heard from on April 16. Dwayne said his son lived by his cell phone. He called his mom every day. His phone hasn’t been used since April 16."

http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=HDR/MGArticle/HDR_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352393835

http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/0807/2101_Travis_Baker.html

[omsk99]

Originally posted by kindanew
Just bumping this thread so folks will see it!

Thank you! So sad for his family :rose:

[Jess-in-NC]

Kindanew - thanks for the pm :)

I really don't know where to start with this case - I live in this area and haven't seen much coverage at all, which is odd because we don't have a lot of missing persons cases...

How much do you know? TIA

[omsk99]

Originally posted by Jess-in-NC
Kindanew - thanks for the pm :)

I really don't know where to start with this case - I live in this area and haven't seen much coverage at all, which is odd because we don't have a lot of missing persons cases...

How much do you know? TIA

Just from those two articles I posted earlier. A very strange case, a friend Travis supposedly visited last didn't pass polygraph, and then lawyered up and wouldn't talk. Then a month later he called his parents asking if they would like trout he and Travis caught :confused: He promised to tell LE whatever he knows and never did.

Now, are they still looking into this guy?? There is not too much online about it, unfortunately.

[Jess-in-NC]

Originally posted by omsk99


Just from those two articles I posted earlier. A very strange case, a friend Travis supposedly visited last didn't pass polygraph, and then lawyered up and wouldn't talk. Then a month later he called his parents asking if they would like trout he and Travis caught :confused: He promised to tell LE whatever he knows and never did.

Now, are they still looking into this guy?? There is not too much online about it, unfortunately.

Thanks for posting that Crime Library link - I had some of the details wrong.

Very bizarre, indeed. I'm surprised that they haven't released the friend's name that didn't pass the polygraph...maybe put some pressure on him?

I noticed that in one of those pics he is wearing a Cougars Baseball t-shirt. That's the mascot for ACHS (the high school that I went to), and I don't think that Bunker Hill has the same mascot...? I also noticed that in his graduation pic, his gown is navy blue...

So, if he did go to Bunker Hill, I wonder who's t-shirt he's wearing? A friend's?

Does anyone know where he was visiting friends? Was it in T-ville? Oxford? Claremont?

[Jess-in-NC]

Why can't they tell where his cell phone calls originated from before his phone was turned off? What are the odds that at 19-20 year old has a cell phone older than two years? Not very likely IMO...

[barefoot]

It makes me crazy that this is the second recent missing person case in less than a month in my area and yet the Winston-Salem newspapers and TV stations have yet to run even a single blurb about either one. If it's not even making the news in towns less than an hour away, how in the world do they expect it to be publicized enough for people to help?

I hope this one will turn out better than George Anna Setzer's case did. His family will be in my thoughts and prayers.

[omsk99]

Originally posted by kindanew
http://www.topix.net/forum/city/hickory-nc/TOAQSI6QAF3B080S3/p2
This is the link where I first heard about Travis. Notice the discouragement from his family member. This does not sound like the typical routy 19 year old.

Thanks for positing this link. This is one of his father's posts, it's so sad and they are desperate for help:

"Travis has been missing for 4 months as of August 16th.To this day we know no more than we did day one.Travis picture can be seen on myspace under Patricia Baker.HE has not been listed with the NCmissing persons or the national missing persons for what reasons we dont understand.It is up to Catawba County Sherriffs Dept to do this.WE can't it has to be done by them.For 3 months I have asked why he has not been listed but they cant seem to tell me why.This troubles me about Catawba County.Your opinion on how you feel his case is being handled is welcome.I would love to know.My personel opinion is not a good one.Thanks to everyone again for your concern Dwayne Baker"

[omsk99]

Originally posted by kindanew
I dont get it:
11:09 Travis calls his lady
11:27 He texts her
20 minutes later he doesnt answer when she calls him.
I am wondering if the text was not from him. Anyone can swipe a phone and text it out.

It is also strange that right after, the calls went straight to voicemail, which means the phone was switched off. Maybe so it couldn't be traced? Can you trace it if it's switched off?

ETA: Just read in one of the articles the following "authorities have not been able to trace where Baker was when he made the calls. "

[Jess-in-NC]

Originally posted by omsk99


It is also strange that right after, the calls went straight to voicemail, which means the phone was switched off. Maybe so it couldn't be traced? Can you trace it if it's switched off?

ETA: Just read in one of the articles the following "authorities have not been able to trace where Baker was when he made the calls. "

No, you can't trace the calls if the phone is turned off. BUT, as you stated above, he made some phone calls, and authorities SHOULD be able to trace them. Why they can't is beyond me, unless his cell phone is more than 2 years old.

He was supposed to meet his fiancee for lunch, correct? The last time he contacted her was supposedly at 11:27, so it would be safe to assume that he wasn't planning on staying at this 'friend's' house for long, no? I wonder why he went? Maybe for a purpose, and not just to visit? Was this the 'friend' that failed the polygraph test and quickly retained an attorney?

I wonder if he could have been involved in drugs... :(

I hope the authorities have interviewed the fiancee more than once. She could answer a lot of these questions IMO. Has she talked to his parents?

IIRC LE suspects foul play, so they are probably investigating this case as a homicide. I don't know that he would necessarily be listed as a Missing Person in the NC database?

[omsk99]

Originally posted by Jess-in-NC


No, you can't trace the calls if the phone is turned off. BUT, as you stated above, he made some phone calls, and authorities SHOULD be able to trace them. Why they can't is beyond me, unless his cell phone is more than 2 years old.

He was supposed to meet his fiancee for lunch, correct? The last time he contacted her was supposedly at 11:27, so it would be safe to assume that he wasn't planning on staying at this 'friend's' house for long, no? I wonder why he went? Maybe for a purpose, and not just to visit? Was this the 'friend' that failed the polygraph test and quickly retained an attorney?

I wonder if he could have been involved in drugs... :(

I hope the authorities have interviewed the fiancee more than once. She could answer a lot of these questions IMO. Has she talked to his parents?

IIRC LE suspects foul play, so they are probably investigating this case as a homicide. I don't know that he would necessarily be listed as a Missing Person in the NC database?

IIRC that friend was the last person he was visiting (the one who called about the trout). I still just don't understand why they can't keep talking to him since he failed the polygraph. I believe he is listed as a missing person in the NC database, I think I read it in some of the father's posts.

At least the case is being discussed on boards now and has more publicity, so hopefully there will be more information about it from LE.

[omsk99]

Originally posted by kindanew
Has anyone seen a printable missing poster?

http://www.someoneismissing.com/

Scroll down to the info about Travis and you can print a poster from there (Print Flyer)

[freetobeme]

Interesting. I live in Statesville and haven't heard anything about this, not one bit.

[omsk99]

Originally posted by freetobeme
Interesting. I live in Statesville and haven't heard anything about this, not one bit.

That seems to be the problem with this case. Once it finally was reported by David Lohr from Crime Library, it got more attention. hopefully, it will be picked up by news stations, or put pressure on LE.

[omsk99]

Originally posted by kindanew
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=209608663

The myspace of the mom of Travis. Nothing really new here

How sad :rose:

[emmeblu]

Originally posted by kindanew
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=209608663

The myspace of the mom of Travis. Nothing really new here

On July 6, 2007, Hallie posted under one of the pics on myspace account "he was the love of my life". Wonder if Hallie is his fiance? I looked back through the news articles and did not see a name mentioned. Pic number 14 on page 1 under profile pics.

:rose: This young man did not just fall off the face of the earth. Someone knows something and I do hope that LE is putting the pressure on any persons of interest in this missing persons case.

:rose: For Travis' parents and family. Sad.

[omsk99]

Another bump for Travis!

http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=HDR/MGArticle/HDR_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352478108

[carolinagirl]

Bumping :)

I went to school with Travis 10th grade thru senior year at ACHS (I saw someone had posted about the baseball shirt he was wearing in one of the pictures and the color of his grad. gown...he went to ACHS for 3 years as I know of. I don't think he went our freshman year though).


He was a nice guy from what I knew and it's definitely disheartening to hear the news.


I first found out when another girl had posted about it in a MySpace bulletin and it's just...awful.

I wish his family nothing but good things and keep them in my prayers.


Hopefully some new news will come along soon!!

[omsk99]

I can't find anything new, either. This is just another flyer:

http://www.ncmissingpersons.org/

[VeeTruWill]

http://www.wsoctv.com/news/14184422/detail.html

:rose: For Travis and his family

[darcie]

Volunteers join search for missing teen .

http://www.wcnc.com/news/topstories/stories/wcnc-092407-jmn-teen_search.10540d4db.html




Hoping you are found and brought home! Prayers for Travis and his family.

[darcie]

http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=HDR/MGArticle/HDR_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352893906

Volunteers were unable to find anything new in the case of Travis Baker, but his family remains hopeful. Baker, now 20, has been missing since April 16.

*snipped*

Praying for you!

[darcie]

http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=HDR/MGArticle/HDR_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352932926


Looking for a sign
Family, supporters hope billboard brings answers in five-month-old case.

[Cury-us Coyote]

Family plans tribute to missing teen

Travis Baker has been missing for six months, and Tuesday evening, his family will pay tribute to him by releasing balloons into the air in front of his Catawba County high school.
...
Investigators at the Catawba County Sheriff's Office suspect foul play in his disappearance and have followed more than 100 tips in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Texas and Nebraska.
...
Baker's family and the Kristen Foundation, a group that offers support to the families of missing adults, is offering a $15,000 reward for information that leads to Baker's whereabouts, said foundation director Joan Petruski.

http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/320348.html

[omsk99]

Originally posted by Cury-us Coyote
Family plans tribute to missing teen

Travis Baker has been missing for six months, and Tuesday evening, his family will pay tribute to him by releasing balloons into the air in front of his Catawba County high school.
...
Investigators at the Catawba County Sheriff's Office suspect foul play in his disappearance and have followed more than 100 tips in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Texas and Nebraska.
...
Baker's family and the Kristen Foundation, a group that offers support to the families of missing adults, is offering a $15,000 reward for information that leads to Baker's whereabouts, said foundation director Joan Petruski.

http://www.charlotte.com/breaking_news/story/320348.html [/*]

Thank you for the update! There were no news at all for a while. I am glad the family has support from various organizations. I wonder if they contacted TES or Kelly Jolkowski?

[Cury-us Coyote]

Missing man's family asks hunters for help

As hunters enter the woods this season, Baker’s family hopes they’ll keep an eye out for anything that may have to do with his case.

http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=HDR/MGArticle/HDR_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173353515809

[omsk99]

Originally posted by Leather&Lace
Bumping for Travis :rose:

This town is about 63 miles from where Kyle Fleishman went missing in Charlotte, NC.

Cannot find any updates on this case. Anyone from that area that can give us any new information?

:rose: For the family. [/*]

Thank you for the bump, LL. It seems this case has gone cold, there is nothing about it in the media for months now

:rose:

[barefoot]

I live in the area, but haven't heard a thing about it recently. I'm guessing there's nothing new to report.