MISSING: Marc Allen, March 29, 1986, Des Moines, Iowa

In the final part of our series on the “milk carton kids,” we turn our focus to Marc Allen, a 13-year-old who disappeared in 1986 under circumstances somewhat similar to that of Johnny Gosch and Eugene Martin. Though Marc’s face never appeared on a milk carton, his case is often linked to Johnny and Eugene. Was there a connection, or are these unsolved disappearances just tragic coincidences?

We will examine the details of Marc Allen’s disappearance, explore the theories that have surrounded these cases for decades, and reflect on the impact they’ve had on families, communities, and the national conversation about missing children.

If you have any information on the disappearances of Marc Allen, Eugene Martin, or Johnny Gosch, please contact the Des Moines Police Department at [phone], or submit a tip to the statewide Iowa Cold Case Unit at 800-242-5100 or [e-mail].

SOURCES: 

• COLD CASE: The story of a teen boy who disappeared is told yet again, November 25, 2010, WHO-TV Channel 13
• No charge in carrier fondling, October 17, 1984, The Daily Nonpareil
• Police arrest adult carrier on sex charges, October 20, 1984, The Daily Nonpareil
• Alex, Tom, First-degree murder charged in stabbing, February 28, 1984, The Des Moines Register
• Alex, Tom, 18-year-old woman charged in fatal stabbing in D.M., February 28, 1984, The Des Moines Register
• Carothers-Kay, Anne, Ex-newspaper carrier guilty of child abuse, February 7, 1985, The Des Moines Register
• Sykora sentenced to 10 years in prison, April 6, 1985, The Des Moines Register
• Santiago, Frank, Police raids find no link to Gosch, Martin cases, March 1, 1986, The Des Moines Register
• Carothers-Kay, Anne & Suk, Tom, Police write of sex abuse to parents, July 10, 1986, The Des Moines Register
• Flansburg, Elizabeth, Grand jury clears officer in gun death, April 22, 1987, The Des Moines Register
• D.M. man given 30 years for six counts of sex abuse, May 30, 1987, The Des Moines Register
• Alex, Tom, At holiday time, missing youth’s mother waits anxiously for a call, December 19, 1988, The Des Moines Register
• Alex, Tom, Skeleton found; link eyed to missing boys, November 13, 1990, The Des Moines Register
• Alex, Tom, Unidentified woman died of blow to head, November 14, 1990, The Des Moines Register
• Alex, Tom, Model of head shown to help slaying probe, January 29, 1991, The Des Moines Register
• Beach, Patrick, Sculpted model helps identify victim, February 2, 1991, The Des Moines Register
• Osher, Chris, D.M. man charged in dismemberment case, May 15, 1991, The Des Moines Register
• Osher, Chris, Polk jury finds Boudinot guilty of manslaughter in death of prostitute, September 24, 1991, The Des Moines Register
• Obituaries: Michelle Christine Saul, February 2, 1991, The Sioux City Journal
• Missing Kids Milk Carton Campaign Outcome, September 4, 2017, The Des Moines Register
• NCMEC Blog, 2024, Milk Carton Kids
• Johnny Gosch, Missing Iowa Boy, December 2023, CNN

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