Missing Since: 2006-10-29 Location: Florissant, Missouri
Potts was being pursued by the St. Ann police and the Missouri State Highway Patrol when he crashed his car on the Blanchette Bridge westbound on Interstate 70 in Florissant, Missouri at 2:30 a.m. on October 29, 2006. Potts was driving a friend’s gray Ford Contour at the time; he was at the wheel because he thought his friend was too drunk to drive. The police saw the vehicle weaving and tried to stop it, suspecting the driver was drunk. Instead of stopping, Potts led the police on a chase with speeds approaching 130 miles per hour. After he crashed his car, Potts exited the car and ran, pursued by an officer, and jumped over the bridge rail. It’s unclear whether he landed on the catwalk or fell into the Missouri River below. He has never been heard from again. Since he went missing, Potts hasn’t picked up any of his checks or used his bank accounts. He was carrying his wallet and identification cards at the time of his disappearance. Police initially considered him wanted, rather than missing. It wasn’t until November 1 that they accepted a missing persons report. On November 5, searchers did a water and land search, dragging the river near Blanchette Bridge, but they didn’t find anything of interest. His friends stated Potts is a good swimmer. Potts’s mother was undergoing treatment for cancer at the time of his disappearance and said he regularly checked on her and it is uncharacteristic of him to leave without warning. Nevertheless, some of his loved ones believe he left of his own accord to start a new life; he had allegedly told family members he wanted to change and would do “whatever it takes.” The other theory is that Potts drowned in the Missouri River and his body was swept away by the current. His disappearance remains unsolved. Investigating Agency St. Louis County Police Department 314-889-2341 Source Information Missouri State Highway Patrol Missouri Missing The St. Louis Post-Dispatch NamUs The Criminal Report Daily Updated 4 times since October 12, 2004. Last updated September 6, 2010; details of disappearance updated.