Missing Persons

By Brian Bender, December 2003

These people used to be good friends of mine. Over time, we lost contact. Years passed.

Are they still alive? Have they changed their names? I don’t know. They’re missing. I’ve tried searching Google for their names, but there were no results.

I created this page for fun—to see if maybe they would find it, and contact me. I think it would be great to hear from each of these people.

It also makes for a cool experiment. Can the “power of the Internet” bring old friends back together? How long will it take? In a networked world, can anybody really disappear?

Chris Peterson

In college, Chris went by many nicknames—including Sarge, Leaky Pete and the ever-popular PITASUN. Always eager to lend a helping hand, Peterson could often be found helping pretty girls carry boxes in the stairwell. Chris also had a starring role in my unfinished video project, Buck Naked, and will always be remembered for his Spring Break exploits in The Bahamas. Unfortunately, Chris disappeared after dropping out of school and moving back to Michigan.

Last seen: Spring 1999
Last known location: Michigan, USA

Melanie Polito

Melanie and I shared some wonderfully awkward moments at our high school senior prom. After working on a class project together, I had a big crush on her for several months. We dated regularly during high school. I remember being totally clueless, inexperienced and frightened at times—but Melanie didn’t seem to mind. She went off to college at Colorado, and I only saw her a few times after that. We lost touch in 1998.

Last seen: Fall 1998
Last known location: Colorado, USA

Michelle Wright

Michelle played a significant role in my adjustment to college life. We lived next door in the residence hall—she was a senior; I was a freshman. Acting as a big sister, a good friend and a giggling maniac, Michelle provided comfort, conversation and comedy. I never really understood why a senior would want to hang out with freshmen, and I was especially confused that she never seemed to take any classes. She disappeared in 1996.

Last seen: Summer 1996
Last known location: London, UK

Update

Melanie found this page, and contacted me in October 2004. We talked on the phone for more than an hour, and she sent me some digital photos from her recent life. I was very proud that my experiment worked (in less than a year), and happy to hear from her again.