On Saturday, February 28th, around 3 p.m., a 12-year-old Brian was last seen riding his bike around North 9th Avenue and West Myrtle Avenue attempting to finish his Phoenix Gazette newspaper route. He was wearing a light blue t-shirt with the words "GUHSD Physical Education Department", dark blue warm-up pants with a white stripe on the sides, and blue sneakers.
Maybe the authorities thought Brian was a runaway. His parents and friends however, never once thought that he would run away. Every day for the past five weeks Brian went out to his backyard to check on his pregnant pigeon. His father said that Brian knew the eggs were supposed to hatch on Sunday, and he wouldn't miss it. He also missed Church and on Monday school, both activities he really enjoyed.
The search for Brian intensified on Monday with Lt. Mike Kavanaugh at the helm. He set up a temporary command post at a fire station at 7th Avenue and Glendale where he assigned 19 detectives to go door to door in Brian's neighborhood to search for answers.
Maricopa County Sheriff's Office searched an area near the Aqua Fria River after a tip came in about a boy matching Brian's description being seen riding in what was described as a blue 4-wheel drive Ford Bronco with a handicap license plate.
Brian's parents didn't think the boy spotted in the jeep was their son because he was described as wearing different clothes than Brian was last seen in.
At the end of the day, the officers had not come up with any significant leads. And the case went cold.
Police reports claimed that in 1982 Stephen confessed to two acquaintances and, in a separate conversation, to a Phoenix doctor that he had killed Brian.
During the trial the prosecutor said that Brian and other kids had hurled homophobic insults at an openly gay Stephen and also threw rocks at his home. This caused Stephen to strike out against Brian.
Also, during the trial it came out that Brian's bike was found a few yards behind Stephen's apartment, and a neighbor said she'd seen the boy at Stephen's front door around the time he vanished.
At the end of the trial, the jury acquitted Stephen of all charges.
After his acquittal, a frail Stephen continued to make jewelry. He also had a nearly fatal heart attack and ended up moving in with his parents to spend his last days. He had attended the Nutcracker performance with family members the night of December 22nd, 1993. He ended up passing away early the next morning. He maintained his innocence in Brian's case until his last day.
When Brian disappeared, he was a 5-foot, 95-pound, Caucasian male with blond hair and brown eyes. He also has a red birthmark the size of a quarter on his forearm. He is diabetic and requires insulin. He needs to inject 30 units of insulin a day and, allegedly if he goes more than a few days without it, he will slip into a coma and eventually die.
Anyone having information regarding this case is asked to contact the Phoenix Police Department
Missing Persons Unit at (602) 534-2121 or phoenix.tips.ppd@phoenix.gov.
After hours: (602)262-6141
Detective D’addabbo #5586 Sergeant Chapman #7114
602-534-3053 602-262-4088