Crime Junkie - NEW EVIDENCE!! How Every Parent's Worst Nightmare Became True: The Disappearance of Marcus Rutledge
Marcus Rutledge, a 23-year-old from Nashville, went missing in June 1998, prompting concern from his girlfriend Tania and his family. Despite initial reassurances, Tania's instincts led her to break into Marcus's apartment, where she found his dog neglected, indicating something was wrong. The investigation revealed Marcus had dropped out of college and was secretly selling weed, which shocked his family. His car was later found abandoned, with a gun inside, but no signs of Marcus.
The case took a twist when Marcus's friend Athan was murdered in 1999, raising suspicions of a connection between the two cases. Athan's murder was linked to drug-related activities, and his roommate Charles was suspected but never convicted. Despite these developments, Marcus's case went cold until his remains were found in 2010, identified through DNA in 2024. The discovery confirmed Marcus was murdered, but the case remains unsolved, with police believing his drug activities played a role in his death.
Key Points:
- Marcus Rutledge disappeared in 1998, leading to a complex investigation revealing he had dropped out of college and was selling weed.
- His car was found abandoned with a gun inside, but no immediate leads on his whereabouts.
- Friend Athan's murder in 1999 raised suspicions of a connection, but no conclusive evidence linked the cases.
- Marcus's remains were found in 2010, identified in 2024, confirming he was murdered.
- Police suspect Marcus's drug activities contributed to his death, but the case remains unsolved, needing someone with information to come forward.
Details:
1. 🔍 The Mysterious Disappearance of Marcus
1.1. Initial Concerns
1.2. Investigation Process
2. 📞 Unanswered Calls and Rising Concerns
- Marcus, typically prompt in returning calls, has been keeping major secrets from his family, raising concerns among those close to him.
- On June 8, 1998, Tania becomes worried when her boyfriend Marcus does not show up to meet her and fails to answer his cell phone, which is out of character for him.
- Marcus had spent the previous night at Tania's place and took their 2-year-old daughter to daycare that morning, with their last phone conversation at around 1:30 PM, indicating that something might be wrong.
- Tania's concern grows as Marcus does not return calls, prompting her to contact his parents in Michigan to see if they have heard from him, highlighting the geographical distance since Marcus lives in Nashville, Tennessee for university.
3. 🚗 Clues, Confusion, and Secrets
- Marcus's family, who usually communicate with him regularly, have not heard from him, increasing concerns about his whereabouts.
- Marcus's father, David, initially tries to reassure Tania that Marcus might be delayed but ultimately becomes worried himself after failed attempts to reach Marcus.
- Tania becomes more suspicious when she finds Marcus's car, a red 1995 Plymouth Neon, missing from his apartment, prompting her to investigate further.
- Lacking a key to Marcus's apartment, Tania calls Marcus's best friend, Athan Gibbs Junior, to help her break in, indicating the seriousness of the situation.
- Inside the apartment, Tania and Athan discover Marcus's Rottweiler locked in the bathroom without food or water, suggesting Marcus's absence is unplanned and prolonged.
- The dog had resorted to eating part of the bathroom carpet, highlighting the length of time it was left unattended, reinforcing the belief that Marcus would not willingly leave his pet in such conditions.
- There are no signs of a struggle or foul play in the apartment, but the state of the dog and the absence of Marcus's packed belongings suggest his disappearance was unexpected.
4. 🕵️ Unveiling Hidden Lives
4.1. Missing Person Report Initiation
4.2. Initial Family and Friends' Reactions
4.3. Uncovering Marcus's Hidden Life
5. 🚨 The Missing Car Enigma
- Marcus dropped out of college in 1997 but continued pretending to be a student, unbeknownst to his family, highlighting his dual life.
- He engaged in selling weed predominantly to college students, an activity that began during his actual college years.
- Despite believing Marcus was on the verge of graduating, his family was unaware of both his dropout and drug dealing.
- No immediate threats or debts were identified, although Marcus had past altercations related to his drug activities.
- His car was discovered parked at an apartment complex 20 miles from home, with no signs of violence or known connections to the area, posing a major mystery.
- The rental of a car for 10 days by Marcus raised suspicions of possible illicit activities, though no direct evidence was uncovered.
6. 🔫 Connections to Crime and Mystery
6.1. Abandoned Car Raises Suspicions
6.2. Complex Canvasing Yields No Leads
6.3. Forensic Investigation of the Car
6.4. Lack of Evidence Post-Disappearance
6.5. Mysterious Phone Calls to Family
6.6. Case Goes Cold
7. 💔 Unsolved Murders and Hidden Truths
7.1. Case at a Standstill
7.2. Charles D Brown Jr's Background
7.3. Home Invasion Details
7.4. Athan's Murder
7.5. Suspicions on Charles
7.6. Investigation and Arrest
7.7. Connection to Marcus and Legal Proceedings
8. 🧩 Breakthroughs and Family Discoveries
8.1. Circumstantial Evidence and Unsolved Cases
8.2. Unexplored Leads and Potential Connections
8.3. Family Discoveries and Missed Opportunities
8.4. Major Breakthrough and Its Implications
8.5. Challenges and Family Impact
9. 🔎 A Call for Justice
- The public is urged to provide any information related to the death of Marcus Rutage or Ethan's murder.
- Information should be directed to the Department's Crimestoppers division at the phone number 615-741-7071.