Puzzles

Gay Atlanta Man Goes Missing On The 4th of July In Birmingham, Alabama

Published on July 6, 2024

Deundray Cottrell, 31, was last seen at night on the 4th of July around 10 PM.

He traveled from Atlanta to visit his sister in her new home in Birmingham, Alabama for the holiday, and arrived around 6 p.m.

The story of how he went missing provides very little details thus far and makes no sense.

THE STORY

According to Al.com, this was Deundray’s first time seeing the new home his sister shares with her husband and children.

Inside the home on the 7000 block of Fourth Avenue South, About 10 p.m., Cottrell said he was going upstairs to check on his dog, because of the firefworks.

“He went and checked on the dog and I never saw him again,’’ Angelica Harris said according to Birmingham police.

They were told by his “partner” that he had left. Cottrell’s family searched for him throughout the night and day, to no avail. They did track down Ring camera footage at several homes that showed Cottrell running through yards, and even jumping over a gate.

“It looked like he was looking for refuge,’’ Harris said. “He was running for his life.”

They did find some of his belongings, including one of his red shoes and his cell phone.

Deundray is/was currently working on obtaining a Doctorate’s in marketing.

THE MISSING DETAILS

What’s missing in the story for me are details that may actually matter. Deundray was gay man. We know that in this world some people have issues with gays. Yet that’s not mentioned in any report, other than by me in this one.

He was also a tall black man, in Birmingham, Alabama. A place known for it’s history of racial discord.

They are saying his “partner” is now missing.

There is no indication on if drugs were involved or not, which could’ve caused a bad episode/trip if drugs were involved in his behavior of running like someone was chasing him..

The breed, size, and color of the dog is also missing from the story. Is the dog missing? Cause obviously he wouldn’t go walking without his dog.

How did Deundray go upstairs, but there is no mention of him coming back downstairs and walking out the door? Was everyone in their room headed to sleep? Did he jump out the window?

Nothing makes sense.

“He’s a well-loved, well-known, good hearted person and there’s a lot of people hurting from him being gone,’’ his sister said. “What’s happening doesn’t make sense.”

“Cottrell is 5-feet, 5-inches tall and weighs 155 pounds. He was last seen in jeans, a white tee-shirt, a jean jacket, an American flag bandana hanging out of his pocket, and one red shoe.” (red shoes – were there gang members in the area who took offense to the shoe color? WHO was chasing Deundray??)

This story needs more attention. We hope he is found.

P.S. The news report says he’s 5’5″ but clearly he’s 5’9″.

UPDATE:

BREAKING: BODY OF MISSING MAN FOUND IN BIRMINGHAM

Birmingham police found the body of Deundray Cottrell near 6th Ave South and 78th St south, near where he was last seen on July 4th, investigators are calling this an unclassified death. Meaning they don’t know how he died, until the toxicology report comes back. They are looking for his partner of 3-years.

THE PARTNER

The partner’s name has now been revealed.

The family was told by Deundray’s partner, Julian Morris, that he had left and took off running through the back yard, and they did find some of his belongings there, including one of his shoes and his cell phone.

According to Al.com, “Morris’, family said, was acting erratically and not like they’ve known him to act for the past three years.” (That seems to mean that either Deundray’s family or Julian’s family, said that Julian the boyfriend was acting weird.”