The Abduction of Eugene Martin
Episode 122
On August 12th, 1984, thirteen year old Eugene Martin walked from his home in Des Moines to the location where he would pick up papers for delivery. After waiting on the corner, Eugene loaded his carrier bag and mysteriously vanished.
Just two years earlier, Johnny Gosch, also a newspaper delivery boy, disappeared from the very same streets. Their abductions bore uncanny resemblances leading many to wonder if both children had been taken by the same suspect.
Sources:
“Eugene Wade Martin” - Iowa Cold Cases
“Eugene Wade Martin” - The Charley Project
“Missing Paper Carrier is Believed Kidnapped” - Alex, The Des Moines Register
“Photos Dropped on Iowa Mom's Doorstep Add Twist to 1982 Missing-Boy Case” - Fox News
“FEW CLUES IN YEAR SINCE PAPERBOY DISAPPEARED” - Chicago Tribune
“Party canceled on missing paperboy's birthday” - Peterson, UPI
“Johnny Gosch: An Iowa kidnapping that helped change the nation” - Ta, The Des Moines Register
“Eugene Wade Martin” - The Resource Center for Cold Case Missing Children’s Cases
“Body Is Found; Lost Paperboy Case Reopened” - Los Angeles Times
“Eugene Martin's brother talks about hope case will be solved” - Tauscheck, KCCI Des Moines
“Eugene Wade Martin” - The Doe Network
“Eerie Resemblance to Gosch Case” - Quad City Times
“Police Believe Missing Paperboy Kidnapped” - Glover, Iowa City Press-Citizen
“D.M. Police Hunt for Missing Paperboy” - The Gazette
“Another Carrier Boy is Missing” - Sioux City Journal
“Reward for Missing Boy Increases” - The Muscatine Journal
“Volunteers Search in Wooded Areas Along River for Missing Teenager” - The Des Moines Register
“6 Report Seeing Man Talking with Des Moines Paperboy” - Globe-Gazette
“Branstad Gives Moral Support to Martin Family” - Alex, The Des Moines Register
“Reagan Calls to Offer Aid on Missing Boys” - Santiago / Alex, The Des Moines Register
“No New Clues in Kidnapping” - The Gazette
“The Search Goes On” - Quad City Times
“Volunteer Searches Called Off for Missing Newspaper Carrier” - Quad City Times
“Gosch, Martin Photos on T-Shirts” - The Des Moines Register
“Carrier Sex Probe Hits D.M. Register” - Globe-Gazette
“Men Search River for 2nd Newsboy” - Sioux City Journal
“Martin Family Funds Dwindle” - The Gazette
“Juvenile: Marc Allen” - The Des Moines Register
“Eugene Martin Case Remains Open After 31 Years” - Krenz, We Are Iowa