John Douglas Boone

John Douglas Boone disappeared on Christmas Eve 1998 and remains missing after more than 26 years. His case represents one of New Brunswick's long-standing unsolved disappearances, documented in official missing persons databases and featured prominently on the Gone In NB project dedicated to raising awareness about missing persons in the province.

Name: John Douglas Boone

Age at Disappearance: 39 years old

Date Missing: December 24, 1998 (Christmas Eve)

Location Last Seen: Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada

Case Classification: Endangered Missing Person

Police File Number: 99-000031

Investigating Agency: Saint John Police Force

John Douglas Boone was described as a 39-year-old white male standing 5'9“ tall and weighing approximately 300 pounds. He had brown, short hair and hazel eyes. When he disappeared on December 24, 1998, he was wearing a green fleece-lined coat and brown suede shoes. No distinguishing marks or features were documented in official records, and information regarding dental records, fingerprints, or DNA was listed as unknown.

John Douglas Boone was born circa 1959, making him 39 years old at the time of his disappearance. His family had strong ties to the St. Andrews, New Brunswick area, with his mother being Nancy F. Keay (née Keay), a prominent local businesswoman. Nancy operated The China Chest Limited, a popular family business in St. Andrews from 1970 to 2023.

The family structure reveals important context for understanding John's disappearance. His mother Nancy was previously married to E. John (Jack) Boone, John's father, though they had divorced. Nancy later had a relationship with S. Barry Gotell. John had siblings including a sister Susan (Jim) Simms and a brother Brian Boone. According to family records, John was married to someone named Sherry at the time of his disappearance.

A critical aspect of John's case involves his mental health status at the time of his disappearance. Official records indicate that John suffered from depression and was reportedly not taking his medication when he went missing. This detail is particularly significant given research showing that individuals with untreated mental health conditions, especially depression, represent a high-risk category for missing persons cases that may result in self-harm.

Studies on missing persons and suicide indicate that depression is the most prevalent clinical diagnosis among those who disappear and are later found to have died by suicide, affecting approximately 40-43% of such cases. The timing of John's disappearance on Christmas Eve is also noteworthy, as holiday periods can be particularly challenging for individuals struggling with depression due to increased social and emotional pressures.

John Douglas Boone was last seen in Saint John, New Brunswick, on December 24, 1998. The specific circumstances of his disappearance have not been detailed in publicly available records, though the timing on Christmas Eve suggests he may have been dealing with personal struggles during what is typically a family-oriented holiday period.

Research into missing persons cases during winter months, particularly around holidays, indicates elevated risk factors for individuals with mental health challenges. New Brunswick's mental health statistics show higher than national average rates of mood disorders, with combined mood and anxiety disorder rates at 14.5% compared to the Canadian average of 10.6%. Winter months in maritime provinces like New Brunswick can exacerbate depression symptoms due to seasonal affective disorder and reduced daylight hours.

The Saint John Police Force classified John's case as an “Endangered Missing” person. The case was assigned number 99-000031, indicating it was opened in 1999, shortly after John's disappearance. Contact information provided includes the Saint John Police Force at 506-648-3333 and the general RCMP missing persons email at canadasmissing-disparuscanada@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

The case was added to the Doe Network database on May 2, 2024, more than 25 years after John's disappearance, and was last updated on the same date. This relatively recent addition to national databases suggests ongoing efforts to maintain awareness of cold cases and utilize modern investigative resources.

Several theories emerge when analyzing John's disappearance within the context of similar cases:

Mental Health Crisis Theory: Given John's documented depression and failure to take medication, one possibility is that he experienced a mental health crisis that led to impulsive actions. Research shows that individuals with untreated mental illness are at significantly higher risk for both suicide and going missing. The Christmas Eve timing could have intensified feelings of desperation or hopelessness.

Suicide by Drowning Theory: Saint John's location on the Bay of Fundy and Saint John River provides numerous water access points. Studies of missing persons who later died by suicide show they often travel to water sources or remote locations. The winter conditions in December 1998 would have made water temperatures particularly dangerous, with hypothermia occurring rapidly.

Deliberate Disappearance Theory: Some missing persons cases involve individuals who deliberately disappear to start new lives elsewhere. However, this seems less likely given John's mental health struggles and the lack of any subsequent contact with family members over more than two decades.

Foul Play Theory: While there's no specific evidence suggesting foul play, the complete lack of traces or sightings over 26 years raises questions. However, the absence of evidence of criminal activity makes this theory less probable than scenarios involving mental health crisis.

John's disappearance occurred during one of the most challenging periods for search and rescue operations - December in New Brunswick brings harsh weather conditions, shortened daylight hours, and dangerous outdoor environments. The Maritime climate during winter presents particular risks for individuals who may be disoriented or in crisis.

Saint John's topography includes numerous areas where someone might become lost or injured, including urban industrial areas near the port, forested regions on the city's outskirts, and extensive waterfront areas along the Bay of Fundy. Research on missing persons spatial behavior indicates that individuals with mental health crises often don't travel far from their last known location but may seek out significant or meaningful places.

The disappearance had profound effects on John's family, particularly his mother Nancy Keay, who lived with uncertainty about her son's fate for the remainder of her life. Her 2025 obituary specifically mentions that “Her son, John (Sherry) Boone, has been missing since 1998,” indicating that the family never received closure. This demonstrates the ongoing trauma experienced by families of missing persons, where the absence of answers prevents normal grief processing.

Nancy's continued operation of her business, The China Chest Limited, until 2023 suggests she maintained hope that John might return, as many families of missing persons do. The fact that she never declared John deceased legally (as evidenced by the obituary's phrasing) reflects the complex legal and emotional challenges faced by families in such circumstances.

The case exemplifies the challenges of long-term missing persons investigations, where initial evidence grows cold but families continue seeking answers. Modern DNA technology and database cross-referencing offer new possibilities for identifying remains that may have been recovered but not identified.

John's case is part of a larger pattern of missing persons cases in New Brunswick. According to RCMP statistics, approximately 1,400-1,500 missing person reports are filed annually in the province, though most are resolved quickly. Cases like John's, which remain unsolved for decades, represent a small but significant percentage that highlights gaps in investigative resources and techniques available at the time.

The establishment of projects like Gone In NB demonstrates community recognition of the need to maintain awareness of these cases and provide support for affected families. John's inclusion in their database ensures his case remains in public consciousness and may generate new leads.

The disappearance of John Douglas Boone represents a complex missing persons case involving mental health challenges, difficult environmental conditions, and the long-term impact on surviving family members. While the specific circumstances of his disappearance remain unknown, the available evidence suggests a man struggling with depression who vanished during a particularly vulnerable time of year.

After more than 26 years, John's case demonstrates both the limitations of 1990s investigative techniques and the ongoing possibilities offered by modern technology and sustained public awareness efforts. His mother Nancy's recent death in 2025 without ever knowing her son's fate underscores the human cost of unresolved missing persons cases and the importance of continued investigative efforts.

The case remains open and active, serving as both a reminder of an individual life cut short and a call for continued vigilance in supporting those struggling with mental health challenges, particularly during vulnerable periods like the holiday season when John disappeared.