Calendar Helps Police Update Timeline Of Disappearance
SELMA – One year later, Selma Police continue to search for a missing 84 year-old man who disappeared without a trace. James Norman Batten was last seen on December 15, 2021. He was reported missing by his family on March 6, 2022 after they were unable to reach him.
Mr. Batten, who goes by the nickname of “Mose” and “Jimmy”, was last seen by his two brothers and a nephew on December 15, 2021.
Police Chief W.M. “Billy” Thomas said the inside of Mr. Batten’s Madison Street home was “neatly kept” and there were no signs of a struggle or disturbance. Police found the front door unlocked and his cell phone inside.
Chief Thomas said detectives learned Mr. Batten would cross through the date on his calendar at the end of that particular day. He marked December 17, 2021 off his calendar. December 18th had not been marked off the calendar, leaving investigators to believe he disappeared sometime that day.
In the months prior to his disappearance, Mr. Batten had stopped driving his car due to failing eyesight. He enjoyed walking in his neighborhood but kept to himself. He was not known to frequent any specific locations. When he needed to go to the grocery store, he would call the same taxi company. The taxi company said he never called after December 15, 2021.
After he disappeared, Selma Police entered James Batten into a national missing person database. There have been no leads. Chief Thomas said Batten’s family have been very cooperate and are very concerned about him.
Batten, a retired US Army veteran, had worked part-time at Lowes Home Improvements in the Cleveland area until a few years ago.
Batten is 5 foot 10, 165 pounds, with brown balding hair, and brown eyes. He sometimes wears glasses. He has no known cognitive impairments.
A $1,500 reward is being offered for information leading to the whereabouts of James Norman Batten. Anyone with information is asked to contact Selma Police Detective Sgt. J. Vause at 919-965-8189.
