Unsolved Cases: Jamie Martin Thornton

Jamie Martin Thornton was a little more than a month shy of his second birthday as he played in the front yard of his home in the West End of Pittsburgh on Oct. 4, 1986.

But when his birthday arrived on Nov. 12 that year, Jamie, whose nickname was "J.T," wasn't there to celebrate it. Some reports say he disappeared in Chartiers Creek.

There is very little information available on his case, other than the standard online listings on the Pennsylvania Missing Persons, National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, NamUs and The Doe Network. He is considered one of the "endangered missing."

Today, he would be 27 years old.

In a March 7, 2011 story, the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reported Jamie's mother, Gloria Steffens of Overbrook, became the first parent to provide her DNA to Pittsburgh police as part of a national project to link family members with the remains of lost relatives.

Her biggest fear, according to the story, was that his remains would be found and she would have to deal with the fact she could never hold her son again.

At the time of his disappearance, Jamie was 3 feet, 2 inches tall; about 30 pounds; with light-brown hair; brown eyes and a birthmark on his right thigh. He was last seen wearing blue shorts, a green tank top and blue tennis shoes.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Pittsburgh police at 412-665-4000. You may remain anonymous.

For more information about this and other missing person cases, visit Pennsylvania Missing Persons, NamUs or the Doe Network.