By Jim Bush
The State News

The following article was published Wednesday, June 20, 1973, on page 5. The article can also be seen on microfilm at the Main Library.

Henry Baltimore, a drum major for the MSU marching band, is missing following his testimony against the man accused of robbing him at gunpoint last March.

Baltimore, Jackson junior, was reported missing from his Oakhill Avenue apartment by his parents on May 31, East Lansing police announced last week.

His sister, Lural Baltimore, a graduate student at MSU, said she fears Baltimore was kidnapped. She said Roy Davis, who is charged in the March 3 robbery, visited her brother shortly after Baltimore testified at Davis' preliminary exam and allegedly told him "I should have killed you when I had the chance."

Baltimore indicated at the preliminary exam that Davis was one of two men who came to his room at noon on March 3, tied him to his bedsprings and robbed him at gunpoint of $110 and several personal items.

East Lansing Detective Sgt. Dean Tucker would not confirm the threat and said he has no indication that Baltimore was abducted.

"I have no control over what Baltimore's friends and relatives say, and I cannot verify it," Tucker said.

However, East Lansing Detective Jim Kelly Monday said police are not ruling out the possibility that Baltimore was abducted. He said police have not yet uncovered any firm leads as to Baltimore's whereabouts.

Paul Lott, one of Baltimore's three roommates at 340 Oakhill Ave. said he had not heard from Baltimore since May 30. He said that he and Baltimore were close enough friends that, had Baltimore voluntarily gone into hiding, he would have found out about it.

"I think Henry's being missing has something to do with Roy Davis," Lott, Flint sophomore, said. "I think he was kidnapped. If he was hiding, he'd let us know — he would've taken his car."

Baltimore's car, a 1968 Buick, remained in its apartment parking space until Baltimore's father picked it up last week.

Baltimore's sister echoed Lott's remarks.

"When I went to Henry's apartment the day after he was last seen, I saw his car in the parking lot and his books strewn about the floor," she said. "We're close enough that I know he rarely goes anywhere without his car."

However, police are considering the possibility that Baltimore has voluntarily gone into hiding to avoid testifying at Davis' trial. Baltimore failed to appear at an original preliminary exam for Davis early in May, Kelly said. He said a bench warrant was issued for Baltimore's arrest and Baltimore was fined $50 for failing to appear. Baltimore then proceeded to testify at a newly scheduled preliminary exam on May 24.

Lott said that 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.

Kelly said Baltimore may have thought he would be required to testify at Davis' arraignment in Ingham County Circuit Court on June 1. He may have voluntarily gone into hiding to avoid testifying at the arraignment, Kelly theorized.

It was later, on May 24, that the alleged threat against Baltimore's life was made. And it was six days after that when Baltimore was last seen by Lott as Baltimore, a social science major and honor student, returned from a morning class.

One hour later, at 11:30 a.m. a neighbor of Baltimore reportedly saw two men knock at Baltimore's door. Lott said no one else was home at the time.

Kelly said that anyone with any information of Baltimore's whereabouts should call East Lansing police at 351-4220.