On May 30, 1973, 21-year-old Michigan State University student Henry L. Baltimore Junior disappeared from the off-campus apartment he shared with three roommates, Tony Ransom, George Heath, and Paul Lott, Jr.
Henry’s sister, Laural Baltimore, discovered Henry missing after arriving at his apartment to acquire a paper she agreed to type for him. The paper’s due date came and went with no sign of Henry. His roommates told Laural he went to the library but never returned.
In March 1973, 22-year-old Roy L. Davis and a second man attacked and robbed Henry at gunpoint. Police never identified the second man. Henry did not report the crime for ten days out of fear of retaliation. Davis threatened bodily harm if Henry went to the police, who ultimately charged Davis with armed robbery. Henry told the authorities that he was scared to testify against Davis.
According to the State News, Lott said “the stolen goods had been returned to Baltimore in return for a promise that Baltimore would not testify at Davis’ preliminary exam, which would then have caused the case against Davis to be dismissed.”
He failed to attend the preliminary examination. Police issued a bench warrant for his arrest. Henry resurfaced, paid a $50 fine, and tried unsuccessfully to get the case dismissed. The judge scheduled an arraignment for June 1, but Henry disappeared before he was to testify.
Roy Davis pleaded guilty to a lesser charge, and a judge sentenced him to six months in the Ingham County Jail.
There are two theories in this case:
- Roy Davis murdered Henry and disposed of his body at an unknown location. A neighbor saw Davis knocking on Henry’s apartment door on the day of his disappearance. However, Davis had an alibi that his mother backed. Authorities never arrested him for Henry’s disappearance.
- Fearing for his life if he testified against David, Henry fled Baltimore of his own free will and started a new life elsewhere. However, police believe he met with foul play.
Henry’s siblings continue searching for the truth about their brother’s disappearance. If alive today, Henry would be 64 years old.
True Crime Diva’s Thoughts
I don’t think Henry left of his own accord because I don’t believe he would have stopped communication with his family. He seemed close to his family at the time of his disappearance.
I believe Davis murdered him because even though he had an “alibi,” a family member backed it. His mother probably would have lied to protect her son.
Considering David had already robbed and attacked Henry, and Henry was to testify against him, the motive is evident in this case.
For some reason, part of me wonders about Henry’s roommates. Weren’t they concerned when he never returned from the library? Laural said in 2010, “His car was there, and all his things were there in their places, but he wasn’t there. I kept calling, and his roommates said he went to the library and never came home.”
Did Henry go to the library? Did the police verify this? Why didn’t the roommates answer the phone? Did they have a falling out with Henry? Did authorities question them? After all, they were the last people to see him alive, as far as I can tell.
What do you think happened to Henry L. Baltimore, Junior?