4 year old Timothy Davison was last seen in Decatur, Illinois on October 10, 1985. He was last seen sleeping in the backseat of his aunt’s car in the Brettwood Village Shopping Center.
Background
At the time of his disappearance, Timothy’s aunt had custody of him and his two brothers. She lived with her boyfriend and child in the 2100 block of North Charles Street in Decatur, Illinois.
Timothy and his siblings came to live with the aunt in the spring of 1985 while his parents were going through a divorce. His parents were living in Winter Haven, Florida at the time.
Timothy has a speech impediment and was missing his two upper front teeth. He was a slow learner, and did not know his last name or home address.
Disappearance
On October 10, 1985, Timothy’s aunt drove him, his two siblings, and her child to the Brettwood Shopping Center in the 3000 block of North Water Street in Decatur, Illinois.
When they arrived around noon, Timothy was asleep in the backseat of her car. His aunt decided to take the other three children inside Kroger to go shopping while leaving Timothy unattended in her vehicle, a red 1981 Dodge Omni.
This is the last time anyone saw Timothy. When his aunt came back 30 minutes later he was gone.
Upon returning and finding him gone, she immediately reported him missing.
Investigation
Timothy’s aunt says the car was locked when she left him unattended, however police dispute that claim.
One of the tips police recieved says Timothy got into a black two door Oldsmobile Cutlass (either 1978 or 1979) with a man and woman not far from the mall. The car had an Indiana license plate. The tip was followed up on, but did not produce any viable suspects.
Timothy’s biological parents were investigated and ruled out as suspects early on, as they were living in Florida at the time of his disappearance.
In 1987, a deaf-mute boy was found wandering the streets of Juarez, Mexico. It was suspected the boy might be Timothy since he was the right age and matched his description, however a comparison of footprints determined it was not him. The boy was later identified as José Garcia.
In 1987, Timothy’s maternal aunt, Cindy Smith, disappeared from Winter Haven, Florida. Her boyfriend is a suspect, and authorities do not believe the cases are connected.
In 2002, the home where Timothy lived with his aunt on North Charles Street burnt down and became property of the Macon County trustees. In 2013, police dug up the yard for looking for evidence, but after a week they found nothing.
Whereabouts
The location of Timothy Davison, as well as the circumstances surrounding his disappearance, remain unknown. His case is classified as endangered and remains unsolved.
Police suspect he was abducted by a non family member.
Appearance
White male born on January 22, 1981. Timothy has brown hair and brown eyes. He stood 3’4 tall and weighed 40 pounds at the time of his disappearance.
He was missing his two upper front teeth at the time of his disappearance and has a speech impediment.
Clothing & Accessories:
Timothy was last seen wearing a light blue windbreaker jacket, blue jeans, a black baseball cap, and white sneakers.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Timothy Davison please contact the Devatur Police Department at (217) 424-2738.
Agency Case Number: M99C6716.
