Retelling their last-known moments

• Editor’s Note: Between the years of 2000 and 2020, 40 individuals vanished without a trace in Northeast Texas, never to be heard from again. During the month of December, the News-Telegram will high light the circumstances of their disappearances in the hope that one of our readers may be able to help police or family find answers.

Albright, Alwin - Albright was last seen July 6, 2019 walking away from his home at the Gates Apartments on Scott Street in Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas. He was headed in the direction of downtown, according to security footage from the apartment complex.

He was 74 years old at the time of his disappearance and would be 75 now. He has grey hair and blue eyes. He’s 5’10” and 250 pounds. He was last seen wearing a red shirt and blue jeans. Mr. Albright has medical issues and is without the medications he needs.

“We just want to find him,” older sister Lula Yates told local Fox News affiliate KETK in March 2020. The family told the station they suspected foul play.

There is a $1,000 reward for information regarding his whereabouts. Anyone with information should contact the Gilmer Police Department at 903-843-5545.

Alvarado, Eric “Slow” - Alvarado was last seen Nov. 20, 2018 in Atlanta, Cass County, Texas. Alvarado was last seen leaving his home at 1:30 a.m. He left the door to the house open, and in the early morning hours, his black Jeep was found abandoned and out of gas on Highway 71 south of Ogden, Ark. Eric’s two pitbulls, who he had taken with him, were found dead nearby.

Eric’s family believes he has disappeared under mysterious circumstances. He was working as a tattoo artist and left behind three stepchildren with whom he was very close.

Alvarado is 6’5” and 180 pounds. He was 32 years old and now would be 34. He was last seen wearing camouflage pajama pants, a white t-shirt, and a gray zip-up jacket. He also may have the glasses he was wearing. He has tattoos on his arms, chest and neck. There is a $10,000 reward for information on his whereabouts. Anyone with information should contact the Atlanta, Texas police at 903-796-7973.

Birdwell, Jerrod - Birdwell was last seen Jan. 6, 2014 in an unspecified city in Smith C o u n t y . Birdwell was 17 at the time he disappeared. His height is listed as 5’5” and weight as 170 pounds, but he may have grown. He is white with short black hair and brown eyes. There are no more details available about him. Anyone with information should contact the Smith County Sheriff at 903-590-2661.

Boehm, Frederick “Lil Joe” Joseph - Boehm was last seen Jan. 25, 2001 in in Marshall, Harrison County, Texas. At sometime between 11 p.m. and midnight, Boehm received a phone call which seemed to upset him, witnesses said. He left his home on foot, walking down Victory Drive towards town. His friend’s girlfriend was sitting on the porch when he left, and Boehm allegedly told her not to wait up for him as he would see her in the morning. Boehm was allegedly carrying a five-shot .357 Magnum revolver at the time of his disappearance.

Boehm was living with his best friend and his best friend’s girlfriend at the time he went missing because, according to accounts, his truck was broken and he didn’t have transportation to work. It is uncharacteristic of Boehm to leave without warning, his friends said, especially as Boehm planned to watch his roommate’s dog as they were going out of town the next day.

Although police initially suspected that Boehm was murdered due to outstanding debt, they later learned that he had thousands of dollars untouched in his bank account. Police believe foul play is involved, according to reports.

“I know he’s probably gone, but I just need to close it,” sister Jolene Oney told the Marshall News Messenger. “Every time I see a homeless person or if someone’s by the road, I break my neck to see if it’s him, but in all reality, I know he’s probably gone.”

Boehm is 6’0”, 130 pounds, with hazel eyes and brown hair. He was 24 at the time of his disappearance and would be 43 now. He has a rebel flag tattoo on his upper arm. There is a $5,000 reward for information regarding his disappearance. Anyone with information should contact the Marshall Police Department 903-935-4546.

Cannon, Heather Danielle - Cannon was last seen Aug. 27, 2009 in Athens, Henderson County, Texas. Authorities initially believed the 15-year-old disappeared left of her own accord, and was last seen in the company of her biological father, Jerral Allen Whitley.

Whitley refused to take a polygraph test after Heather’s disappearance and was later incarcerated in Florida for drug offenses and grand theft, according to the National Missing and Unidentified Persons Database. He was imprisoned for 18 months before being released in October 2014, according to the Florida Department of Corrections.

Police have since completed excavations of a property on County Road 4837, near Larue, according to the Athens Daily Review. In both 2017 and 2019, Henderson County and Texas Rangers obtained search warrants for an eight acre tract of land that was “the last known location of where she was,” according to Henderson Sheriff Botie Hillhouse.

However, even with the aid of heavy machinery and cadaver dogs, police investigations came up empty, according to the Athens Daily Review.

“She wouldn’t do this to her family, just disappear,” said family friend Tanaya Brown on social media. “I grew up with her, and she was very close to her family.”

Cannon has sandy hair and green eyes. She is 5’5” tall with green eyes. Her ears, tongue and navel are pierced, and she weighs approximately 140 pounds. She would be 26 years old. Anyone with information should contact the Henderson County Sheriff at 903-675-5128.

All data gathered from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons Database, Charley Project, local news media, Texas Equusearch, The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Texas Department of Public Safety, CrimeStoppers, Missing East Texas Eight Facebook Page, Texas Department of Corrections and original research.