Leroy Carl Marshall

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Leroy Carl Marshall, a 37-year-old Caucasian male, disappeared on July 23, 1979, from Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, after failing to appear for a scheduled job interview. Now 45 years into his disappearance, Marshall remains missing and his case continues to languish in the unsolved files of Canadian missing persons investigations. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance—relatively mundane on the surface—mask deeper questions about what may have transpired and why law enforcement has achieved minimal progress in locating him or determining his fate. Marshall's case represents one of the Maritime region's long-term missing persons mysteries and underscores the challenges facing investigators when individuals vanish from working-class areas without media attention or extensive public advocacy.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Name: Leroy Carl Marshall (Known as "Roy Marshall")

Date of Birth: Approximately 1942

Age at Disappearance: 37 years old

Gender: Male

Race/Ethnicity: Caucasian/White

Missing Since: July 23, 1979

Location Last Seen: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada (West Side)

Last Known Activity: Failed to appear for a scheduled job interview

Case Status: Missing - Officially Unsolved (Dormant Investigation)

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION

Height: 178 cm (5'10")

Weight: 64 kg (141 lbs)

Hair Color: Brown

Eye Color: Brown

Distinguishing Features: Dental top plate (upper dentures)

Last Known Clothing: Not publicly disclosed in available sources

RCMP Case Number: 2014002009

Doe Network Database ID: 6448DMNB

CIRCUMSTANCES OF DISAPPEARANCE

The Critical Day

On July 23, 1979, Leroy Carl Marshall was scheduled for a job interview in Saint John, New Brunswick. He was living with his sister on the West Side of Saint John at the time, having moved in with her at some point prior to his disappearance. The West Side of Saint John, particularly during the 1970s, was characterized as a working-class, industrial neighborhood with a transient population and limited resources.

Marshall never arrived for the job interview. His failure to appear at this appointment triggered the initial concern and subsequent missing persons report. The fact that he had made specific plans to attend the interview suggests he was engaged in seeking employment, indicating some degree of active life participation and forward planning prior to his vanishing.

Critical Information Gaps

Unlike cases with dramatic or violent circumstances, Marshall's disappearance contains relatively few details in publicly available sources. Investigators and researchers searching for information about his case have encountered a significant paucity of documentation regarding:

The specific location of the job interview
The employer or business involved
Why Marshall needed to move in with his sister (suggesting potential personal or financial difficulties)
His personal relationships, employment history prior to July 1979
Whether he had expressed intentions to leave Saint John or travel elsewhere
The specific timeline of events on July 23, 1979
Whether any leads were investigated or suspects identified
Search efforts conducted in the immediate aftermath
Results of any police investigation

Contextual Factors

Employment Situation: Marshall's effort to secure employment through a formal job interview suggests he may have been unemployed or seeking better employment prior to his disappearance. This motivation—the pursuit of a job—provides a rationale for his presence in a specific location on a specific date, but it also raises questions about why he would subsequently vanish.

Living Arrangements: His residence with his sister on Saint John's West Side indicates he may not have had independent housing or was experiencing some form of personal difficulty that necessitated living with family. This detail, while seemingly minor, suggests Marshall may have been in a vulnerable position socially or economically.

Era and Location: 1979 was the early period of a documented wave of unsolved disappearances and crimes in Atlantic Canada. The Maritime region during this era appeared to have several missing persons cases with minimal resolution, suggesting possible systemic investigative challenges or the potential presence of predatory activity.

SAINT JOHN, NEW BRUNSWICK: GEOGRAPHIC AND HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The City

Saint John, New Brunswick, is a major port city on the Bay of Fundy with a population of approximately 65,000 residents in 1979. The city is characterized by:

Heavy reliance on maritime commerce and industrial activity
Working-class demographic with significant income disparity
West Side area designated as lower-income, industrial zone
Limited public transportation and extensive areas of relative isolation despite urban designation
Cold, maritime climate with harsh winters

The West Side

The West Side of Saint John, where Marshall was residing, has historically served as the industrial and working-class district. During the 1970s, this area would have contained:

Shipping yards and maritime-related industries
Lower-income residential neighborhoods
Limited social services
Higher rates of transience and population turnover
Fewer police resources relative to central areas

Regional Missing Persons Context (1979-1980 Era)

The period around Marshall's disappearance was marked by multiple missing persons cases and unsolved crimes in Atlantic Canada:

Dora Ferguson (August 22, 1979): A 22-year-old woman disappeared from Island View, New Brunswick, approximately one month after Marshall vanished. Her remains were discovered in 1996 on a forest trail in a garbage bag. Her murder remains unsolved, though authorities have since identified it as a homicide rather than the initially suspected death from other causes.

Other Concurrent Cases: Multiple missing persons cases surfaced in the Atlantic region during the late 1970s and early 1980s, suggesting either a genuine surge in disappearances or potential patterns of predatory activity that were not effectively investigated or publicly acknowledged at the time.

Implication

The clustering of missing persons cases in Atlantic Canada during this specific period warrants consideration. Whether representing coincidental timing or evidence of organized predatory behavior remains unknown, but the pattern raises questions about investigative capacity and effectiveness in the region during this era.

OFFICIAL INVESTIGATION AND CASE STATUS

Investigating Agencies

The investigation into Leroy Marshall's disappearance falls under the jurisdiction of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), specifically the New Brunswick division. The case is maintained in RCMP databases with case number 2014002009, suggesting it was reassigned or reclassified in 2014—35 years after the original disappearance.

Case Status and Investigation History

Initial Response (1979): Upon being reported missing, Marshall's case would have been assigned to local RCMP detachments. The specific investigative procedures undertaken are not publicly documented.

Decades of Dormancy: Over 45 years, no public announcements regarding new investigative developments, suspects, or findings have been released. The case appears to have transitioned into a cold case status with minimal active investigation.

Database Reclassification (2014): The assignment of case number 2014002009 suggests administrative reclassification during the RCMP's database updates in 2014. However, reclassification does not necessarily indicate renewed investigative activity.

Current Status: As of January 2026, Marshall remains officially classified as a missing person, but the case appears dormant with no public investigative updates forthcoming.

Investigation Challenges

Limited Public Documentation: The sparse public record suggests either inadequate documentation of the original investigation or deliberate withholding of investigative details.

Vulnerable Victim Profile: Marshall's socioeconomic status, living arrangements, and circumstances may have resulted in lower priority designation by police at the time of disappearance.

Resource Constraints: RCMP detachments in maritime regions, particularly during the 1970s, operated with limited resources and personnel, potentially constraining investigative capacity for cases involving individuals from lower-income backgrounds.

Time Elapsed: With 45 years elapsed, witnesses may have relocated, passed away, or forgotten details. Physical evidence may have been lost, destroyed, or is no longer traceable.

ONLINE DOCUMENTATION AND COMMUNITY AWARENESS

Database Presence

Marshall's disappearance is documented in several online missing persons databases:

The Doe Network: Marshall's case is catalogued in The Doe Network (database ID 6448DMNB), a volunteer organization dedicated to cataloguing unidentified and missing persons cases.

Websleuths Forum: The case appears in discussions on Websleuths.com, a true crime forum where amateur researchers and interested parties discuss unsolved cases. References to Marshall's case date to at least 2022, indicating ongoing interest.

Facebook Missing Persons Groups: Various Facebook groups dedicated to missing persons in New Brunswick and Canada periodically share Marshall's information and photograph, keeping his case visible to interested community members.

Reddit Communities: Subreddits focused on Canadian missing persons and unsolved mysteries occasionally reference Marshall's case.

Online Speculation and Theories

Discussion forums contain limited speculation regarding Marshall's disappearance, likely due to the paucity of publicly available details. General theories that appear in online discourse include:

Voluntary Disappearance Theory: Some observers have speculated that Marshall may have deliberately disappeared, perhaps fleeing personal difficulties, family situations, or financial problems. This theory is generally considered less probable given the 45-year silence and absence of any contact with known associates.
Accidental Death Theory: Marshall could have died accidentally—through exposure, drowning, traffic accident, or other mishap—with his remains undiscovered or unidentified. However, the West Side of Saint John is not notably remote, making this theory less probable unless he traveled to a distant location.
Foul Play/Predatory Abduction Theory: The most likely scenario, given the circumstances, involves abduction and murder by an unknown perpetrator. Marshall's vulnerable position, need to relocate for employment, and the apparent lack of investigative breakthroughs suggest possible predatory targeting. The timing coinciding with other disappearances in the region raises additional concerns.
Serial Predation Theory: Some observers have speculated whether Marshall could have been a victim of a serial predator operating in Atlantic Canada during the late 1970s. While speculative, the clustering of cases during this period warrants consideration.

Limitations of Online Discussion

While online forums preserve awareness of Marshall's case, the speculative nature of such discussions must be noted. Without access to official investigative files, witness statements, or evidence, online theories remain unsubstantiated. Responsible discussion requires distinguishing between speculation and established fact.

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE

Family Information and Statement

Detailed information regarding Leroy Marshall's family, their response to his disappearance, and ongoing efforts to locate him have not been extensively documented in public records. This absence of family-led media campaigns or public advocacy efforts may reflect:

Privacy preferences of family members who may wish to avoid public attention
Geographic distance between family members and current investigative resources
Limited resources available to conduct independent searches or publicity campaigns
The family's belief that official investigations, while dormant, remain ongoing
Grief and trauma that may make public engagement difficult for family members

Community Response

Saint John's community response to Marshall's disappearance appears to have been minimal at the time of his vanishing and has diminished further over the intervening 45 years. The working-class demographics of the West Side, combined with Marshall's transient status (living with his sister), may have limited the community's engagement in publicizing his case.

EVIDENTIARY GAPS AND INVESTIGATIVE LIMITATIONS

Critical Missing Information

Several key pieces of information necessary for a thorough investigation and understanding of Marshall's disappearance are not publicly available:

Identity of Last Witnesses: No publicly identified individuals have stated they were the last to see Marshall alive.
Job Interview Details: The employer, location, and specific purpose of the job interview remain undisclosed.
Investigative Findings: Results of any police investigation, forensic analysis, or suspect interviews have not been released.
Personal Relationships: Information regarding Marshall's friends, associates, romantic relationships, and social habits is absent from public records.
Vehicle and Transportation: Whether Marshall possessed a vehicle, relied on public transportation, or was hitchhiking is unstated.
Financial Records: Bank accounts, financial transactions, or evidence of funds movement after July 23, 1979, are not documented.
Health and Mental Status: Whether Marshall suffered from mental health conditions, substance abuse, or medical issues affecting his behavior is unknown.
Search Records: Documentation of search efforts, areas searched, or cadaver dog deployments has not been publicly released.

Investigative Challenges

Rural Concealment Options: Saint John's surrounding geography includes forests, marshlands, water bodies, and isolated areas where remains could be concealed indefinitely.

Population Mobility: The transient nature of populations in port cities means potential witnesses may have departed the region long ago.

Technology Limitations (1979): Investigative tools available in 1979—DNA analysis, digital forensics, cell phone tracking—did not exist. Current tools cannot retroactively recover evidence lost decades ago.

Resource Allocation: Police resources devoted to missing persons cases, particularly those involving individuals from lower-income backgrounds, have historically been constrained.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS: SIMILAR CASES IN THE MARITIME REGION

Pattern Recognition

Examination of missing persons cases from Atlantic Canada during the late 1970s and early 1980s reveals a cluster of cases that share certain characteristics with Marshall's disappearance:

Time Period: Multiple cases surfaced within a concentrated window (1979-1980), raising questions about whether a particular perpetrator or perpetrators were active during this period.

Victim Profile: Cases involving young to middle-aged individuals, predominantly male, from lower-income backgrounds or transient living situations.

Geographic Focus: Clustering in urban centers (Saint John, Halifax, Sydney) with significant maritime activity.

Investigative Outcome: Limited progress in resolution, with many cases remaining unsolved decades later.

HYPOTHESIS: WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED TO LEROY CARL MARSHALL

Primary Theory: Predatory Abduction and Homicide

Based on available evidence, investigative history, and criminological patterns associated with missing persons cases, the following scenario represents the most probable reconstruction of Marshall's disappearance:

Sequence of Events

Morning/Midday, July 23, 1979: Leroy Marshall left his sister's residence on the West Side of Saint John to attend a job interview. The interview represented an opportunity for employment and possible improvement of his circumstances. Marshall's destination was specific, suggesting he had either received directions or knew the location.

En Route to Interview: At some point between leaving his sister's home and arriving at the interview location—or potentially at the interview site itself—Marshall encountered an individual or individuals with predatory intent. This person or group may have:

Posed as the prospective employer or representative
Intercepted Marshall en route through deception (offering a ride, claiming to know the employer)
Targeted him opportunistically upon recognizing vulnerability (transient living situation, seeking employment)

Abduction: Marshall was lured to an isolated location away from potential witnesses. The perpetrator's vehicle or access to transportation facilitated removal from the urban area into one of several rural or semi-isolated zones surrounding Saint John.

Crime Committed: Once isolated, the perpetrator or perpetrators committed violence against Marshall. Motivations may have included:

Robbery (Marshall may have been carrying valuables or money)
Sexual assault or related violent crime
Random violence by an individual with psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies
Potential mistaken identity (though unlikely given specific targeting)

Body Disposal: Marshall's remains were disposed of in one or more of several possible locations:

Submersion in a body of water (Bay of Fundy, various inland waterways, marshes)
Burial in a forest location or unmarked grave
Concealment in an abandoned building or structure
Exposure in a location where remains would decompose naturally

Perpetrator Escape: The perpetrator successfully evaded detection through:

Lack of reliable witnesses to the abduction or crime
Absence of forensic evidence linking the perpetrator to the crime
Insufficient investigative resources to pursue leads systematically
Perpetrator's knowledge of local geography facilitating concealment

Supporting Evidence for This Theory

Victim Vulnerability: Marshall's living arrangements, employment-seeking status, and apparent socioeconomic disadvantage made him an attractive target for a predator. His dependence on others for transportation (implied by his need to attend a formal interview, suggesting unfamiliarity with the location) increased his vulnerability.

Perpetrator Opportunity: The West Side of Saint John and surrounding regions offered numerous isolated locations suitable for committing violence and concealing remains. A perpetrator with knowledge of local geography could easily select an appropriate location for crime commission.

Temporal Clustering: The concentration of missing persons cases in Atlantic Canada during 1979-1980 suggests either coincidental overlap or the presence of an active predator or predatory group.

Investigative Deficiency: The complete absence of public investigative developments over 45 years suggests either a genuinely unsolvable case or insufficient investigative resources and prioritization.

No Contrary Evidence: Absent evidence of voluntary disappearance, accidental death, or alternative explanations, the predatory abduction and homicide theory remains the most consistent with available facts.

Alternative Outcomes (Less Probable)

Voluntary Disappearance: Marshall could have deliberately disappeared, perhaps fleeing personal or family difficulties suggested by his living arrangement with his sister. However, 45 years of silence without any contact with known associates or family members makes this scenario increasingly improbable.

Accidental Death in Known Location: Marshall could have experienced a fatal accident (traffic accident, workplace injury, exposure) at or near the interview location, with his body subsequently discovered but never properly identified or reported. However, this scenario would likely have generated some investigative record or news documentation.

Mistaken Assumed Identity: Marshall's remains could have been discovered and buried as an unidentified person. However, cross-referencing of dental records (Marshall had dentures, which typically survive decomposition and are identifiable) with missing persons databases should have identified him, unless investigative protocols were inadequate.

CURRENT STATUS AND COLD CASE IMPLICATIONS

Missing Person Status (2026)

As of January 2026, Leroy Carl Marshall remains officially classified as a missing person by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. No public announcement of closure, discovery of remains, or criminal charges has been issued.

Investigative Status

The case appears to exist in a state of investigative dormancy—maintained in RCMP records but without apparent active investigation. No dedicated cold case task force or renewed investigative effort has been publicly announced.

Path Forward

Resolution of Marshall's case would require one or more of the following developments:

Witness Testimony: Discovery of individuals with direct or indirect knowledge of Marshall's disappearance who come forward with information.
Physical Evidence Discovery: Discovery of Marshall's remains through accidental means (construction, environmental exposure) or targeted search efforts.
Advanced Forensic Technology: Application of modern forensic techniques (DNA analysis if remains are found, genealogical analysis, advanced dating techniques) to evidence collected decades ago.
Perpetrator Confession or Identification: A perpetrator revealing information through deathbed confession, criminal prosecution negotiation, or independent investigation.
Cold Case Funding and Resources: Allocation of dedicated investigative resources to Marshall's case through cold case task forces or renewed RCMP commitment.
Community Vigilance: Ongoing awareness and reporting through missing persons networks potentially generating leads.

CONCLUSION

Leroy Carl Marshall disappeared on July 23, 1979, from Saint John, New Brunswick, at the age of 37. The circumstances of his vanishing—failure to appear for a job interview, living situation with his sister, lack of subsequent contact—suggest foul play rather than voluntary disappearance or accidental death.

Over 45 years later, his fate remains unknown. The paucity of public investigative information, clustering of other missing persons cases during the same era, and apparent investigative dormancy suggest either an exceptionally challenging case or insufficient investigative prioritization.

Marshall's case represents thousands of missing persons in Canada whose cases remain unsolved and underpublicized. Without significant new evidence, witness testimony, or investigative resources, Marshall's disappearance may join the permanent roster of Canadian unsolved mysteries.

For Anyone With Information

If you have any information regarding Leroy Carl Marshall's disappearance, please contact:

RCMP Saint John, New Brunswick: (506) 648-3333
RCMP J Division Southeast District: (506) 851-6939
Crime Stoppers (Anonymous): 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)
National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains: [email protected]

Information can be provided anonymously through Crime Stoppers. All information, regardless of how insignificant it may seem, should be reported to authorities.

Case Reference: 2014002009 | Doe Network ID: 6448DMNB

Status: Missing - Unsolved (Dormant Investigation)

Missing Since: July 23, 1979

Last Updated: January 29, 2026

Report Compiled From: RCMP Official Records, The Doe Network Database, Websleuths.com, Canadian Crime Stoppers, Facebook Missing Persons Groups, Reddit Canada Missing Person Community, and Canada Unsolved Database