SELMA – Its been three years since a Selma man disappeared without a trace. James Norman Batten was last seen alive on December 15, 2021. At the time of his disappearance he was 84 years-old.
Selma Police Detective Sgt. Justin Vause said he reviews the case frequently but the disappearance remains a mystery.
James Batten lived a simple, quiet life and didn’t know many people. He kept to himself so it wasn’t unusual for him to go weeks without contacting his family, who did not live in the immediate area. On March 6, 2022, relatives could not reach Mr. Batten so they called police to conduct a welfare check at his home.
Police found his Madison Street home “neatly kept” and there were no signs of a struggle or anything being out of place. The front door was unlocked and his cell phone was inside.
Calendar
At the end of every day, detectives said Mr. Batten would mark a line through the date on his calendar. He marked December 17, 2021 off his calendar but not December 18th, leaving investigators to believe he disappeared on December 18, 2021.
In the months prior to his disappearance, Mr. Batten had stopped driving his car due to failing eyesight. He enjoyed walking in his neighborhood, including Lizzie Street. He was not known to frequent any specific locations. When he needed to buy groceries at the IGA on Pollock Street (US 301), he would call the same taxi company. The last taxi driver to carry Batten home said everything was normal and he appeared to be okay.
Selma Police and Johnston County deputies searched the area he walked on several occasions – on the ground and with drones – but there hasn’t been a single clue to help police determine what happened to Mr. Batten.
A birthday card mailed to him on December 20, 2021 was never opened.
There has been no activity on his bank account or credit cards since he disappeared.
Detective Sgt. Vause doesn’t know if foul play is involved but does believe someone knows what happened to James Norman Batten.
His DNA was entered into a national police database for missing and unidentified persons. There have been no matches.
Police said his family has been cooperative and remains very concerned about him.
Batten, a retired US Army veteran, previously worked part-time at Lowes Home Improvements in the Cleveland area until a few years before he disappeared and his eyesight failed.
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 reward is being offered for information leading to the whereabouts of James Norman Batten. Police say he disappeared in December 2021 without a trace.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Selma Police Detective Sgt. Justin Vause at 919-965-8189.
Strange. You would think the body would show up somewhere at least.