James W. Rodgers

Left: James circa, 1981

Right: Age Progressed to age 26


Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance

Missing Since: October 18, 1981

Missing From: Hanson, Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Classification: Non-Family Abduction

Date Of Birth: November 12, 1966

Age: 14 years old

Height and Weight: 5’2″ and 110 pounds

Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Male, Brown hair, Brown eyes, James does not have a pectoral muscle in the right side of his chest, he has large and spaced upper front teeth, he has a cleft in his chin, he has a 1-inch chicken pox scar under his right eye, he speaks with a New England accent and may go by the nickname “Jimmy”

Clothing/Jewelry Description: A brown leather jacket, tan colored pants, and blue sneakers


Details of Disappearance

James was last seen on October 18th 1981. On that day, he called a friend and said he was going to hitch a ride to get to that friends house.

Investigators are not sure if the boy got a ride or not. It’s also possible that James went through Cranberry Bogs to reach the house but it’s unknown if this happened either. He never made it to the friends house and has never been seen or heard from again.

Authorities initially believed that James had runaway but now believe that foul play was possibly involved. All agencies classify James as a non family abduction. For unknown reasons, his case was closed in 2004.

At the time of his disappearance, James lived in the 10 block of Lakeside Road in Hanson, Massachusetts. He was also a newspaper carrier. His case remains unsolved.


Investigating Agency

If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Hanson Police Department 617-294-8081


Source Information

For The Lost (Jahi)

The Charley Project

The Doe Network