He was just a 14 year old boy when he disappeared from the Ashtabula area back in 1991, and to this day; nobody knows what happaned to Donnell White, Jr..
But, despite the odds, and the lack of a recent photo showing exactly what he looks like now; U.S. Marshals are determined to find him.
So now, that's where you come in.
They're offering a $5,000 reward, along with a picture of what he used to look like when he was young, and an "age progressed" picture of what he could look like today; 31 years later.
Why now?
US Marshals Senior Inspector, Bill Boldin, says "This child deserves to have his story told and we will not stop until that happens.” In addition, he says they have already done some of the legwork, despite a lack of evidence. “We’ve identified the people closest to Donnell at the time he went missing. We are encouraging them to come forward and speak up."
White was reported as an endangered runaway to Ashtabula Police Department on August 10th, 1991.
At the time of his disappearance, he was living in the 900 block of W. 38th Street, Ashtabula, OH. There is conflicting information as to when he was last seen, however one of the last confirmed sightings was on a basketball court near his house several days before he was reported missing.
In 2020, detectives with the APD renewed efforts to locate the boy, and enlisted the assistance of the U.S. Marshals Missing Child Unit. Since that time, investigators have followed up on leads and conducted interviews with witnesses from across the country.
White was primarily raised on the east side of Cleveland, in or around Warrensville Heights and North Randall, but was staying with his grandmother in Ashtabula at the time he went missing.
According to U. S. Marshal, Pete Elliott, “Cold cases have unique challenges, but present unique opportunities. Unfortunately, endangered runaways weren’t investigated in 1991 as they are today. Records are difficult to find, potential witnesses may have moved or even passed away. On the other hand, we have people talking to investigators now who weren’t willing in 1991 and that has helped ignite life into the case”.
