Left and Center: Maurice circa, 1983
Right: Age Progressed to age 43
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: November 30, 1983
Missing From: Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida
Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Date Of Birth: August 8, 1967
Age: 16 years old
Height and Weight: 5’11” and 120 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: African American Male, Red/Auburn hair, Brown eyes, Maurice is highly bow legged, he has ankle on the top of his right ear and he had two warts on his right wrist at the time of his disappearance, Maurice’s hair changes color depending on the weather and it may change to an orange tint in the warmer or hotter months, Maurice may use the nickname “Red”
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A white t-shirt, a pair of beige colored short pants, long socks and white sneakers
NCMEC Number: 601778
Details of Disappearance
Maurice Jefferson was last seen in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on November 30th 1983. He left his residence to attend a basketball practice at the nearby Dillard High School, which is where he was a student. It’s been established that Maurice did in fact make it to the basketball court but never showed up for practice.
Due to the way police handled missing persons cases back in the early 1980s, authorities didn’t start to search for Maurice until 3 days had passed.
After his disappearance, two teenaged girls reported that they saw two grown African American males forcing Maurice into an Oldsmobile car. The statement has not been confirmed but authorities do believe that Maurice was abducted on the day of his disappearance.
Authorities do not believe that Maurice left on his own accord, he left all of his personal items like his wallet, money, and identification behind at his grandmothers house which is located in the 200 block of northwest 30th Terrace. He would either live in his grandmothers home in Florida or his mother’s home in Alabama.
His grandmother still lives in the same house that she lived in with Maurice in 1983 and also continues to use the same phone number she had when Maurice vanished.
At the time of his disappearance, Maurice was choirboy at the Piney Grove First Baptist Church, he also played Junior varsity basketball and also ran track. Maurice was also a Junior ROTC Cadet and has dreamed of becoming a doctor someday.
Maurice’s case remains unsolved. Some agencies give November 28th 1983 as the date of his disappearance. He has never been located.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Broward County Sheriffs Office 954-480-4300
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children