Case Details
- Photo URLs:
-
- Missing Since:
- Missing Since 12/04/1994
- Missing From:
- Missing From Richmond County, Georgia
- Classification:
- Classification Endangered Missing
- Gender:
- Male
- Race:
- Race Black
- Date of Birth:
- Date of Birth 01/01/1954 (71)
- Age:
- Age 40 years old
- Height and Weight:
- Height and Weight 6’1, 180 pounds
- Clothing/Jewelry Description:
- Distinguishing Characteristics:
- Distinguishing Characteristics African-American male. Black hair, brown eyes.
- Details of Disappearance:
- James Fielding vanished on December 4, 1994, from his children’s home in Richmond County, Georgia. He left his jacket behind, even though it was cold, suggesting he didn’t expect to be gone long. He’d recently gotten out of prison for drug charges and was trying to turn his life around.
Years later, in December 2005, Leo Utley was arrested for murdering Fielding and another man, Charles Winfield. Utley was also suspected, but not charged, in two other deaths. Police believe Willie Hankerson hired Utley to kill Fielding and Winfield.
Hankerson, Fielding, and Winfield had been arrested together for having drugs. Fielding and Winfield testified against Hankerson, but disappeared before his trial, causing the charges against Hankerson to be dropped. Fielding had told his family he feared for his life.
Authorities believe Hankerson paid Utley $100,000 to silence Fielding and Winfield. Utley later killed himself in jail. Hankerson was eventually convicted of multiple murders.
Because of these connections, and because Fielding’s body was never found, police believe he was murdered. He was a former Marine trying to rebuild his life before his disappearance.
- Agency:
- Richmond County Sheriff’s Office
- Source Links:
This person was missing Missing Since 12/04/1994