A Young Entrepreneur Vanished Last Week Without A Trace

Although African Americans make up just 13 percent of the U.S. population, we account for 33 percent of the missing in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s database. Cases involving African Americans also tend to receive less media coverage than missing Whites, with missing men of color getting even less attention.

NewsOne has partnered with the Black and Missing Foundation and TV One to focus on the crisis of missing African Americans.

To be a part of the solution, NewsOne will profile a missing person weekly and provide tips about how to keep your loved ones safe and what to do if someone goes missing, while TV One‘s newest show, “Find Our Missing,” hosted by award-winning actress S. Epatha Merkerson, tells these stories in visual form. “Find Our Missing” airs on TV One on Wednesdays.

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This week, Find Our Missing turns its attention to the case of Charles Stephen Parker, a budding entrepreneur from Monroe, Ga., who disappeared after looking at some property as part of a business deal he was considering.

Parker, 25, was last seen in church in Lithonia, Ga., where he gave his rendition of Martin Luther King Jr’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Police consider Parker’s disappearance suspicious.

This is totally out of Charles’ character for this to even be happening,” Parker’s brother Patrick Parker told 11 Alive. “Someone always knows where Charles is. I talk to him two or three times a day.

Parker also worked as an assistant branch manager at Bank of America. His wife is alarmed by the fact that police have found some of Parker’s belongings but that he remains missing:

I am trying to be hopeful – that is all I can do,  Kenisha Parker, Charles’ wife said after a press conference at the Monroe Police Station, according to CBS Atlanta.  They have found everything but him. He is the missing piece and all we want is for him to come home.

If you have any information about Parker, please contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at (706) 552-2309 or the Black and Missing Foundation’s tip line.

Here are the details of Parker’s disappearance below:

Charles Stephen Parker

Case Type: Endangered

DOB: Jan 01, 1987

Missing Date: Jan 15, 2012

Age Now: 25

Missing City: Monroe

Missing State: GA

Gender: Male

Race: Black

Complexion: Medium

Height: 5-10″

Weight: 165

Hair Color: Brown

Hair Length: Short

Eye Color: Brown

Wear Glasses or Contacts: No

Location Last Seen: Charles Stephen Parker vanished after attending church. A witness stated they saw Charles in Athens about 4:30 p.m.

Circumstances of Disappearance: Police say the Bank of America employee went to church and then to Athens to look at some property for a business deal and there’s been no trace of him since. He was driving a 2010 black Chrysler 300 with chrome and Georgia tag bearing his initials, “CSP.” On January 18, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation officials located Charles’ black 2010 Chrysler 300 on Hoyt Street near College Avenue. Some of Charles’ belonging were found and turned into the police. Charles’ wallet and gym bag were also found in another area.

Last Seen Wearing: A black suit, black tie, and white shirt when he left church.

Identifying Marks or Characteristics: Unknown

If you have any information regarding Parker, please contact the Georgia Bureau of Investigation at (706) 552-2309 or the Black and Missing Foundation’s tip line.