Donald "Don" Boardman was a man who disappeared from Atlanta, Georgia, on November 23, 1985.
His body was later found in Marion County, Tennessee, that year and identified in May 2022.
Case[]
Background[]
Don Boardman grew up in Fort Lauderdale and was a popular high school student. As an adult, he worked for his father's gift shop, which had locations all over Florida. He was married twice, and after his second divorce, he moved away from the gift shop business and opened a non-alcoholic nightclub called Skyfeathers in 1984. The nightclub had its license dissolved in 1985 after allegations of fraud.
Disappearance[]
Don disappeared from a health fair at a convention center shortly after purchasing a new white 1985 Chevrolet Camaro with a gold trim. At the time of his disappearance, he talked about getting away and having a fresh start. He was reported missing to the Chamblee Police Department. Weeks later, law enforcement discovered Don's Camaro, jacket, and credit cards in East Point, Tennessee, with two men and a woman inside the vehicle. One of the people was a known criminal who owned a body shop, and several purchases had been made on his card.
Discovery[]
On December 16, 1985, a fisherman discovered remains in a creek near Interstate 24 in Marion County. The cause of death was a blow to the head, and his body was fully clothed.
Identification[]
Decades later, Marion County resident Barbara King Ladd read an article about the murder victim. She began checking missing persons' sites from Tennessee and neighboring states. When she saw Don's case, she reported it to the Chamblee Police Department's Facebook page. Crime analyst Lori Bradburn was the first to see and respond to the message. Bradburn tracked Don's sister in Florida and received her DNA sample. The victim was identified as Don in May 2022 from his sister's DNA. At the time of Don's identification, the two male persons of interest had since died, and investigators were looking to contact the woman for more information.
Characteristics[]
- Brown hair.
- Brown eyes.
Clothing and accessories[]
- Jordache jeans.
- LL Bean long-sleeved shirt.
- Blue Ivey's long-sleeved oxford shirt.
- Blue labelled briefs.
- Brown belt.
Gallery[]
