The Disappearance of Timothy Jacob Davison

 


The Disappearance of Timothy Jacob Davison

Name: Timothy Jacob Davison
Nickname: T.J.
Date of Birth: January 22, 1981
Age at Disappearance: 4 years old
Missing Since: October 15, 1985
Missing From: Decatur, Illinois
Classification: Non-Family Abduction

Physical Description

  • Sex: Male

  • Race: White

  • Height: 3'4

  • Weight: 40 pounds

  • Hair: Brown

  • Eyes: Brown

Timothy had a speech impediment and was described as a slow learner. At the time he disappeared, he was missing his two upper front teeth. Because of developmental delays, he reportedly did not know his last name or home address, which investigators later noted would have made it harder for him to seek help if he became lost.

Clothing at the Time of Disappearance

  • Light blue windbreaker

  • Blue jeans

  • White sneakers

  • Black baseball cap

Background

In 1985, Timothy and his two brothers were living in Decatur, Illinois with their aunt, Delany Davison, who had custody of the children. Their parents, Dreyden Davison and Debra Deloach, lived in Winter Haven, Florida, and were going through a divorce at the time.

The children had been staying with their aunt for about a year at her home in the 2100 block of North Charles Street in Decatur. She lived there with her boyfriend and her own child.

The Day Timothy Disappeared

On October 15, 1985, Delany Davison took Timothy, his two brothers, and another child to the Brettwood Village Shopping Center in the 3000 block of North Water Street.

They arrived around 12:00 p.m.

Timothy had fallen asleep in the back seat of the vehicle, a red 1981 Dodge Omni. Not wanting to wake him, his aunt left him sleeping in the car while she took the other children into the Kroger grocery store located in the shopping center.

She was inside the store for about thirty minutes.

When she returned to the parking lot, Timothy was gone.

He has never been seen again.

Possible Vehicle Sighting

One witness later reported seeing a man and a woman placing a child who resembled Timothy into a vehicle not far from the shopping center.

The vehicle was described as a:

  • Black two-door Oldsmobile Cutlass

  • Model year 1978 or 1979

  • Indiana license plates

Investigators followed up on the tip but were unable to identify the occupants of the vehicle, and the lead did not result in any suspects.

Early Investigation

Police launched an immediate search of the area around the shopping center. Officers, search teams, and tracking dogs combed the area while missing-person flyers were distributed throughout the community. Despite these efforts, no physical evidence or confirmed sightings of Timothy were found.

Both of Timothy’s parents were interviewed by investigators and ruled out as suspects early in the investigation, as they were living in Florida at the time of the disappearance.

Authorities ultimately classified the case as a non-family abduction.

The Juárez, Mexico Lead

In November 1987, more than two years after Timothy vanished, a deaf-mute boy was found wandering the streets of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, near the U.S. border with Texas.

The boy:

  • Was approximately the same age as Timothy

  • Had a similar physical appearance

  • Also had a speech impairment

Because of these similarities, investigators briefly considered that the child might be Timothy.

However, after comparing footprints, authorities determined the boy was not Timothy Davison. The child was later identified as José Garcia, who was originally from Tampico, Mexico.

Another Family Disappearance

In an unusual coincidence, Timothy’s maternal aunt, Cindy Smith, disappeared from Winter Haven, Florida in 1987, about two years after Timothy vanished.

Her disappearance also remains unsolved, but investigators have stated they do not believe the two cases are connected.

Later Investigative Efforts

The home where Timothy had lived with his aunt on North Charles Street burned down in 2002. The property later became owned by Macon County.

In July 2013, nearly three decades after Timothy disappeared, investigators from the Decatur Police Department and the FBI returned to the property and excavated the yard in search of evidence using modern investigative techniques.

The search lasted about a week, but no evidence was found.

Despite the lack of results, authorities have said the case remains open.

Ongoing Mystery

Some investigators have publicly questioned aspects of the circumstances surrounding Timothy’s disappearance, noting that details of the story raised concerns during the investigation. However, no charges have ever been filed and no definitive evidence has explained what happened to him.

If alive today, Timothy Davison would be in his mid-40s.

His disappearance remains one of Decatur, Illinois’ longest-standing missing child cases.

Anyone with information about Timothy Jacob Davison’s disappearance is encouraged to contact:

Decatur Police Department
217-424-2738

Sources

Charley Project
Doe Network
National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
WAND News (Decatur, Illinois)
Missing People in America
The Disappeared Blog
Various newspaper archives including the Decatur Herald-Review and Springfield State Journal-Register.


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