Case Details
- Photo URLs:
-
- Missing Since:
- Missing Since 10/30/1974
- Missing From:
- Missing From Clarence, New York
- Classification:
- Classification Endangered Missing
- Gender:
- Male
- Race:
- Race White
- Date of Birth:
- Date of Birth 08/03/1958 (66)
- Age:
- Age 16 years old
- Height and Weight:
- Height and Weight 5’8, 145 pounds
- Clothing/Jewelry Description:
- Clothing/Jewelry Description A shirt, blue Wrangler jeans and black boots.
- Distinguishing Characteristics:
- Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Brown hair, hazel eyes.
- Details of Disappearance:
- In 1974, Duane, a high school student, disappeared. He told his mom he was going to Akron Park with a friend and to meet him at Miles Road. His mom waited, but Duane never showed up.
Years later, in 1986, Michael Thurman confessed to killing Duane. Thurman said they met for a drug deal, argued about money, and he shot Duane, burying him near North French Road. Police searched, but never found a body.
Because there was no body, Thurman wasn’t charged for many years. But eventually, in 2003, police had enough evidence—including witness statements about Thurman bragging about the killing—to charge him. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter and served prison time.
Duane’s body was never found.
- Agency:
- New York State Police 716-759-6831
- Source Links:
This person was missing Missing Since 10/30/1974