Nearly 10 Years Later, a New Image and a Message for Martin

Boone, North Carolina, is a small mountain town, home to Appalachian State University and a large college community.

In April 2016, James “Martin” Roberts was one of the many students living there. He was 19 years old, attending Caldwell Community College and living with his TKE fraternity brothers in an off-campus apartment.

On the morning of April 21, Martin told his roommates he was going to the Appalachian State library to study. He left their apartment on Old Bristol Road carrying a small backpack.

On his way, Martin ran into his cousin, who was taking classes at Appalachian State. The two talked for a while before Martin walked with his cousin to a bus stop on Rivers Street, outside the George M. Holmes Convocation Center.

His cousin got on the bus. Martin walked away.

Surveillance video from the bus captured Martin leaving the area. It is the last known sighting of him.

Martin never returned home.

Boone Police searched for Martin and followed leads, but nearly 10 years later, his family still doesn’t know what happened after he left that bus stop.

Now, they’re hoping a new image will help.

James “Martin” Roberts age progression (Courtesy: NCMEC)

A forensic artist at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) has created a new age progression showing what Martin may look like today at 30 years old.

For his mother, Kim, it’s another opportunity to get her son’s face in front of the public and maybe reach someone who knows something.

NCMEC hopes Martin’s new image will reach people who may not remember the case or were too young to have heard about it when he disappeared.

“Age progressions are an important tool because they give the public a new way to look at a missing person,” said Angeline Hartmann, NCMEC’s communications director. “Maybe someone remembers seeing Martin that day. Maybe someone knows something they didn’t realize was important at the time. Or maybe Martin himself is out there and sees that people are still looking for him.”

Martin also had two distinctive tattoos when he disappeared. On his left forearm were three mountains, each a different color – red, blue and black. On the right side of his rib cage was a tattoo featuring lyrics from Bob Marley’s “Zion Train.”

Photos of James “Martin” Roberts’ tattoos (Courtesy: NCMEC)

When Martin was last seen, he was wearing a black, short-sleeve Appalachian State windbreaker, khaki shorts, a white golf visor and gray New Balance tennis shoes. He was carrying a backpack.

Nearly 10 years have passed since Martin was last seen in Boone. His family is still searching, still hoping someone knows something and still waiting for him to come home.

If you have any information about the disappearance of James “Martin” Roberts, please contact NCMEC at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or the Boone Police Department (NC) at 828-268-6900.