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Steven Damman: Michigan Man Claims to Be Boy Missing Since 1955

by Jarrett Martineau | June 16, 2009 at 10:55 am

9699 views | 4 Recommendations | 7 comments

A man in Michigan has come forward claiming to be Steven Craig Damman, a boy who was reported to have disappeared more than fifty years ago.

The so-called "Boy in the Box" mystery involved the alleged abduction of Steven Craig Damman — then two-and-a-half years old — from a Long Island supermarket on Halloween: October 31, 1955.

Damman, who came to be referred to as "America's Unknown Child" has been missing ever since.

In 1957, however, an investigation was done into the remains of a boy found in a JC Penny crib box, that were suspected to be those of Damman. But subsequent investigations, including a 2003 DNA test of the exhumed remains, ruled out any connection to Damman's identity.

Now, a DNA test is being done on the Michigan man who is claiming to be the missing toddler Steven Damman.

Although results from the test are not expected until the end of July, the missing boy's father Jerry Damman, believes that his long-lost son may indeed have returned.

If this is the case, it would solve Long Island's longest-standing, unsolved kidnapping mystery.

Sources have not disclosed why the Michigan man believe he is Steven Damman.

The father of a Long Island toddler who went missing more than five decades ago says he has reason to believe the man now claiming to be his long-lost son actually is Steven Craig Damman.

"It probably is him," Jerry Damman told Newsday when reached at his farm in Newton, Iowa, on Tuesday.

"[I'm] not a hundred percent sure," he said. "But there's good reason to believe it might be."

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CJaye

at 14:39 on June 16th, 2009

They have foot prints from birth records on Steven Craig Damman, they can check those to see if he is the real son.

Vital Statistics

Date Of Birth: December 1952
Age at Time of Disappearance: 2 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 3'2"; 32 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male. Blonde hair; blue eyes.
Marks, Scars: Small scar under chin. Healed fracture on left arm. Molelike birthmark on back of right calf.
Medical Conditions: Steven had been under treatment for a kidney growth at the time he went missing.
Other: Footprints available

source: http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1275dmny.html

JoAnne Alter (not verified)

at 15:32 on June 16th, 2009

Steven Damman disappeared from a Food Fair supermarket about 1/2 mile from where I lived in East Meadow, N.Y. I was a young child at the time, and vividly remember being terrified of being kidnapped after he disappeared. Everyone talked about nothing but Steven Damman, for months.

It is so ironic that this story just broke. My sister-in-law (who also grew up in East Meadow) and I were talking about the Steven Damman disappearance just this past Saturday! We were laughing about both of our mothers' insistence that he was buried in the foundation at the shopping center.

It's wonderful to hear that he may be alive. I truly hope that this man does turn out to be the little boy about whom we feared the worst for so long.

mary herron (not verified)

at 19:58 on June 16th, 2009

I pray this person is steven I lost a grandson last aug.he died but at least i know what happen to him.

Lisaloo99 (not verified)

at 16:43 on June 17th, 2009

Why did this 2 year old boy have scars, including another one down his right creek and a fractured arm? Perhaps it was a good thing he was kidnapped?

iowyth (not verified)

at 03:24 on June 18th, 2009

Lisaloo, I must object to the implications of your note. Many two year old children can have scars and fractures with no abuse involved. Childhood is not without it's danger's. I am sure you do not remember the dangers of just learning to walk. And 55 years ago there were not the saftey measures taken that there are now to prevent children from falling down stairs etc.... there were no car seats, barely any seat belts.

After a parent has lost a child for 55 years? To bring up something like that? It is a little bit mean.

LizaChicken (not verified)

at 04:31 on June 18th, 2009

Wow, Lisaloo...what a pessimist you are. One bad accident could've caused all of that damage in one fell swoop, and being that his mother was all of 22 years old at the time of the disappearance and already raising an infant and a toddler, is it such a far stretch to suggest that this little boy fell and broke his arm and cut his chin open? Any accident-prone, rambunctious, or otherwise fearless toddler could do all that and more. My over-cautious 5 year old broke his elbow and needed surgery. A cousin of mine had a bed in the ER with his name on it by the time he was three...he was so active the only way to stop him from getting hurt all the time would've been to put him in a cage! I wonder what you'd say about that!

I can't even begin to imagine what the Damman family has gone through for over half a century. And this poor Robert Barnes. Growing up feeling like he didn't belong...with no connection to the family he was raised by/with. He would be fortunate to discover his biologivcal connections now, while he is still young enough to enjoy the Dammans and get to know his biological parents, sister, and nephew.

And while I would like to condemn the man who raised Mr. Barnes should it turn out that this man really IS Steven Damman, let's all remember that it IS possible that the elder Mr. Barnes may be in the dark as well. However, it does seem odd that it is the middle child in the Barnes family who is the "Jr." and not the eldest son.