British stone. LOUIS — A Massachusetts family is asking for your help after their loved one was found dead in St. Louis.
He was heading to Las Vegas, but his family lost track of him after an unexpected detour in St. Louis.
James Wilder’s two sisters and a girlfriend spent five days in December desperately searching for him when his cellphone died on Dec. 8.
“We just don’t have any answers, but it’s been about five days since he originally disappeared before we got this horrific news,” Zequaia Withers said.
Withers said Wilder was a photographer traveling to Las Vegas looking for work when his car broke down in Joplin, Missouri. His family then bought him a bus ticket back to Massachusetts.
“The car stopped in St. Louis and he never got back to the car,” Withers added.
Wilder’s last known cellphone location was near the Greyhound bus terminal at 14th and Clark Streets. He was heading north toward Enterprise Center.
Wilders’ sisters later became involved.
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“When she lost her position, we panicked,” said Jernia Wilder.
They filed a missing persons report, and five days later, on Dec. 13, they said police reported Wilder was found dead in the back of a postal truck less than a half-mile from the bus stop.
“They said someone from the United Postal Service interacted with him,” Zequaya said. “An employee interacted with him. Within minutes, he passed away.”
“There was no investigation into him. James was not homeless,” Zegna said.
St. Louis police confirmed there is no criminal investigation at this time unless a pending autopsy requires otherwise.
FOX 2 checked with the medical examiner who said it will take at least six weeks to determine the cause of his death. We also called the postal inspector who told us postal police initially responded and turned it over to the St. Louis Police Department.
“I wish someone would contact us,” Zequaya said, with Zegna adding, “We’ve been trying to find answers, but a lot of doors have been closed to us.”
They hope the public can help. They added that James sometimes goes by the name Jasmine.
If you saw James Wilder downtown between December 8 and 13, please call police or contact me at chris.hayes@tvstl.com.
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