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Missing Richard R. Banyots 
Banyots, approximately 1985 Date reported missing : 11/03/1985 Missing location (approx) : Girard, Ohio Missing classification : Endangered Missing Gender : Male Ethnicity : White Age at the time of disappearance: 19 years old Height / Weight : 5'10 - 6'3, 175 - 185 pounds Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos : Caucasian male. Blond hair, brown eyes. Banyots's nickname is Rich. Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Banyots was last seen in Girard, Ohio on November 3, 1985. He made a phone call in his bedroom, then left his family's home suddenly and never returned. He has never been heard from again. His brother began looking for him at 3:00 a.m. when he had not returned home. According to witnesses, Banyots went to a brothel in Youngstown, Ohio that evening after leaving Girard. He spent time with Michelle Miller in an upstairs room, and then downstairs he was confronted by Clarence "Vince" Coleman and Jerome Davis, both of whom worked as procurers for the brothel. Both were disguised in wigs and sunglasses. The men pistol-whipped Banyots, robbed him and stuffed him in the trunk of his own car. Miller and another woman joined them as they drove to a secluded area on Route 837 along the Monongahela River in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. Coleman shot Banyots to death there, and they dumped his body in the river, which was in flood stAge at the time of disappearance: s at the time. McDavis was charged with the aggravated robbery and kidnapping of Banyots in February 1987; the charges were later upgraded to murder. In June of that year, Coleman was charged with murder. Bloodstains found at the brothel matched Banyots's blood type, and after his arrest, Coleman provided police with a detailed account of the homicide. Coleman's first trial ended in a mistrial, but he was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, robbery, theft and conspiracy at his second trial. McDavis was tried separately and convicted of the same charges. Both men were sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Miller was initially given immunity from prosecution in exchange for her testimony against the others, but the agreement was voided and she was charged with robbery, kidnapping, criminal conspiracy and criminal homicide after she reneged and refused to testify at the coroner's inquest in July 1987. She pleaded no contest to the first three charges in a plea bargain; the murder charge was dropped. She was sentenced to 35 to 70 years in prison. Although a .38 caliber handgun matching the description of the murder weapon was found in the river near the site of the shooting, Banyots's body has never been recovered. He was a UPS driver and part-time stockbroker at the time of his disappearance. Foul play is suspected in his case due to the circumstances involved. Other information and links : ncy Youngstown Police Department 330-747-7911 September 2021 updates and sources A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are not known. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2�5% of missing children in Europe. By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends. Several organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and imAge at the time of disappearance: s of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece. Ohio Attorney General's Office The Pittsburgh Press The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette The Marion Star October 12, 2004. September 9, 2018; . |