Left: Dontray circa, 1975
Right: Age Progressed to age 40
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: August 20, 1975
Missing From: Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: September 12, 1973
Age: 1 year old
Height and Weight: 3’0″ and 30 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: African American Male, Black hair, Brown eyes, Dontray has a birthmark on the back os his neck
Clothing/Jewelry Description: A white t-shirt, a pair of olive green trousers, and a pair of white sneakers
NCMEC Number: 1138063
Details of Disappearance
Dontray was last seen in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on August 20th 1975. His mother, Diana, was waiting for her grandmother to come and pick her up that morning to take a trip to the post office. Dontray was playing with his oldest sister, Consuelo, on the front porch of the home on a blanket. Diana was upstairs at the time as she got her infant son, Dante, and herself dressed for the day.
Consuelo came inside to use the bathroom and when she came back out, Dontray was gone. Diana ran down the stairs and began to search for her son immediately. She was soon joined by neighbors and others who all looked for the boy but found nothing. She then called her grandmother who told her to contact the police about Dontray’s disappearance. She called them and filed a missing persons report.
Investigators have stated Dontray is missing under unclear circumstances. Diana’s boyfriend was questioned in the case but he and Diana are not suspects in the case. Dontray’s biological father was questioned as well but he too was cleared as a suspect in his sons disappearance. Diana believes someone likely abducted her son that morning. No one in the area reported seeing Dontray being abducted or him wandering off.
Diana believes someone else who lived on the block was involved in her sons disappearance. She holds out hope her son is still alive and well. She does, however, acknowledge the possibility that someone possibly killed Dontray on the day of his disappearance. There was an unsubstantiated report that two men abducted Dontray and sold him for $30,000.
In the years since his disappearance, Diana and her two remaining children moved in with her grandmother on the north side. She married in her 20s and divorced. She remarried in 1990 to a man named Hermann Rittmeyer. Together, they ran Bellkool Co. Inc., a metal fabricating firm. He passed away in 2004. Diana helped raise seven grandchildren and has been caring for Consuelo who has cancer.
Diana and her family used to celebrate Dontray’s birthday but it became too sad to do any longer. His family has submitted DNA samples in the case that he’s recovered alive or deceased in the future. His disappearance was publicized after his initial disappearance but it wasn’t as publicized as much as it should’ve been. Dontray and his family resided on N. 18th Street and W. Locust Street in 1975.
His disappearance remains unsolved. Investigators have stated they have quite a few people they would like to talk to in regards to Dontray’s disappearance but they can’t discuss much since the case remains and open and active investigation.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Milwaukee Police Department 414-933-4444
Source Information
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel