Faded Memories: The disappearance of Billy Martin and a family’s search for closure

BRAZIL, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Robert Martin of Brazil, IN clings to an old scrapbook, the yellowed and worn pages represent a connection to the past and a tangible reminder of his brother who disappeared as a young child, never to be heard from again.

“When August 10th comes around, I always get kind of upset,” Robert said.

On August 10, 1957, a little boy by the name of Billy Earl Martin vanished without a trace.

“I get this bad pit in my gut and a bad feeling, you know? Like talking about it now, it kind of makes me teary-eyed,” Robert said.

67 years later, the case remains unsolved.

“I just wish we could get closure,” Robert pleaded.

The seven-year-old boy was last seen on Colfax Street in Brazil outside his family home, but some accounts differ.

Reports at the time said Billy may have walked to a carnival at Forest Park or wandered off to the alley behind his house to pet some dogs. Another theory is that the little boy was murdered and buried on a haunted farm or at the elementary school that was under construction at the time.

“So many things could have happened, and.. I just don’t know,” Robert added

Billy’s brother, Robert, was just four years old at the time his brother went missing, but he recalls the last time the family laid eyes on Billy. Robert said the boys were playing outside the family home, Billy was on a tricycle.

“He kept running into me, and I got mad and ran into the house to get Mother,” Robert said. “And by the time we came from the kitchen, back to the front porch, Billy was gone,” he added.

At that time, the search for Billy was the largest-scale search in the history of Clay County. The Brazil Police Department was joined by the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana State Police, the National Guard, the Civil Air Patrol, and thousands of volunteers; the community came together to search for one of their own.

But, as time went on, searchers dwindled, and investigators started to lose steam, “They started to give up on him,” Robert said.

On his own, Billy’s Dad continued searching.

Generations of investigators have worked the case.

Clint McQueen is currently the Chief of the Brazil Police Department and continues to hold out hope;

“The case of Billy Martin will always be considered an open case here at the Brazil Police Department,” he said. “Over the years there have been many tips that have been supplied to investigators. Each of them has been looked into and we evaluated the relevancy of information that was supplied at that time.”

Every tip was checked. Every suspect was interviewed. A suspect was even held in jail, only later to be released. But no answers have been found.

Lakes were drained and remain dry today. Lie detector tests were administered to those closest to Billy and the case.

Through it all the young boy’s suffering mother carefully clipped every newspaper article, every photograph. Preserving the scrapbook with handwritten memos, documenting everything she could hold on to.

When asked if his parents ever lost hope, Robert said, “Mom never did. Dad, he did. After searching and searching, searching and searching. Then, Mom, she was always still very hopeful that Billy’d walk through that door.”

Robert’s parents, William and Florence have since passed away. They left this world without knowing the answers to what happened to their firstborn son, Billy.

Now, 67 years since Billy’s disappearance, a brother clings to the faded memories, the worn-out pages. The scrapbook is his connection to the past and to a sibling he didn’t get the chance to grow up with. Robert said life wasn’t the same in Brazil and in his home where the family longed for Billy.

“But growing up, it was terrible,” Robert recalled. “I always thought Billy was still here, and I kept that in my mind,” he added.

A memorial stone now rests in Calcutta Cemetary in Clay County, just steps from his parent’s graves. The stone honors the memory of Billy Earl Martin, missing, but never forgotten.

“I just wish we could get closure,” Robert said as tears began welling in his eyes. “Closure would be the best thing in my life. I don’t think I’ll ever get it, but, there is always hope,” he added.

The Brazil Police Department also holds out for hope, “We’ve always hoped that one day, a new piece of information will surface that will lead us to the truth of what happened to Billy,” Chief McQueen said.

Anyone with information regarding the case can contact the Brazil Department at 812-446-2211.

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