The person at the center of this case
William Farris Goodmon
Missing Person · Unsolved
38 years waiting · since 1988
Missing Person: William Farris Goodmon
Justice for William Farris Goodmon — the trail went cold in 1988, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
🚗
vehicle
Lead #1Why was the 1974 Ford Thunderbird abandoned in a remote Manatee County location nearly 47 days after disappearance, and what caused the delay in its discovery?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2The Ruger .357 magnum handgun that Goodmon always carried was never found—was it taken, discarded, or does it hold clues to his fate?
⏰
timeline
Lead #3What happened during the 47-day gap between his disappearance on June 27 and vehicle discovery on August 13, 1988?
William Farris Goodmon, a 56-year-old man, disappeared on June 27, 1988, while driving from his home in Polk City, Florida to work in his 1974 Ford Thunderbird—a trip he made daily without incident. His vehicle was found abandoned in a remote area of Manatee County nearly seven weeks later with no physical evidence nearby, and his personal handgun was never recovered. Despite decades of investigation, the circumstances of his disappearance remain unknown, and he was declared legally dead in 1993.
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
👁️
witness
Lead #4Were there any witnesses to Goodmon's departure that morning or reports of the vehicle in Manatee County during those seven weeks?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP6906. Missing person: William Farris Goodmon.
Last known contact: 1988-06-27 in Polk City, Polk, FL. Circumstances: Goodmon left home to go to work at approximately 0645 hours on 06/27/1988 driving a 1974 Ford T Bird.
His departure time is typical of his normal daily activity. He never arrived at work.
A handgun (Ruger .357 magnum) that he always carried with him has never been found. Goodmon's vehicle was recovered abandoned on 08/13/1988 in a remote area of Manatee County.
No physical evidence was located in the surrounding area. Goodmon was declared legally dead in 1993.
Demographics: 56 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 5 in, 125 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Blue.
Clothing and accessories: Clothing: Red and white checkered button shirt, navy blue work pants.; Footwear: Light brown western boots. Investigating agency: Polk County Sheriff's Office - Bartow | 1988-071225.
Timeline of Events
👤
1988-06-27
06:45Departure from home
Goodmon left home to go to work at approximately 0645 hours driving a 1974 Ford Thunderbird, consistent with his normal daily routine
👁️
1988-06-27
Last known contact
Last known contact in Polk City, FL. Never arrived at work.
🔍
1988-08-13
Vehicle recovered
1974 Ford Thunderbird recovered abandoned in remote area of Manatee County with no physical evidence in surrounding area
🕵️
1993
Declared legally dead
William Farris Goodmon declared legally dead
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:June 27, 1988 at 6:45 AM
Last Updated:September 27, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8632986200
You can remain anonymous
Leave a comment
Comments
Case Information
Incident:June 27, 1988 at 6:45 AM
Last Updated:September 27, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8632986200
You can remain anonymous