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 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.
Arthur Weldon Neal
Case Type: Involuntary
DOB: June 3, 1928
Missing Date: Dec. 20, 2014
Age Now: 68
Missing City: Detroit
Missing State: Michigan
Case Number: 1412310205
Gender: Male
Race: Black
Complexion: Medium
Height: 5-7
Weight: 160
Hair Color: Gray
Hair Length: Short
Eye Color: Black
Wear Glasses or Contacts: No.
Location Last Seen: Trinity St and Grand River.
Circumstances of Disappearance: Neal recently got lucky and won $20,000 in a lottery. A few days later he had vanished. Family members who went to his home say they found the front door open and his house was a mess.
The state of the Neal’s home is why the family believes he may have been targeted for his lottery winnings.
Family members believe he vanished around the time he went to collect the winnings.
The 86-year-old was sprightly and strong and still employed performing masonry work.
“We just don’t know what happened,” Arthur’s granddaughter Christina Hall told NewsOne in an interview. “Nobody knows for sure what happened. He always has his phone. He always contacts me.”
Family members say it is highly unlikely that Neal would go this length of time without contacting his family.
“I’m worried because Arthur is always around,” neighbor Catherine LeGalley told WXYZ in Detroit. “It’s not like him to disappear.”
Hall, who spoke with her grandfather on a regular basis, said she last spoke to him on Dec. 17. Neal said he was going to call Hall’s mother but never did.
Neal’s 1998 black Cadillac Deville, with Michigan license plate BMZ-7786 is also missing.
“I wish he would call us and let us know if he’s okay,” said Hall.
Last Seen Wearing: Unknown.
Identifying Marks or Characteristics: Long beard.
Anyone with information regarding the circumstances of disappearance or whereabouts of Arthur Weldon Neal may contact Detroit Police at 313-596-5640 or the Black and Missing Foundation’s confidential Tip Line.