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Sat, Sept. 20, 2001
Car found, but still no sign
of missing Army physicianHEIDELBERG, Germany — The car of a missing Army physician has been found, but officials are still mystified as to what may have happened to the doctor himself.
Maj. Jon E. Baldwin, 37, disappeared Sept. 13 after leaving home for work at the Army’s hospital in Heidelberg in his burgundy 1998 Subaru station wagon.
It was that car that his wife, Sherilyn Baldwin, finally found this week. Despite searches by German and U.S. Army investigators after his disappearance, Sherilyn Baldwin found the car not far from the Baldwins’ home.
"It was at the train station in St. Ilgen, which is about 10 minutes away," she said.
Investigators haven’t found any leads, she said, but added, "I think everyone has been doing everything they can to solve this."
The father of three young boys — all under 3, the youngest born less than three months ago — Jon Baldwin has worked at the hospital as a family practice physician for the past year.
After finding the car, Sherilyn Baldwin says she and a friend spent 12 hours riding up and down the train lines from St. Ilgen, plastering stations along the way with the "Missing" posters that have become a common sight throughout the Heidelberg area since the doctor’s disappearance.
"I’m still focused on trying to find him," she said. "I really don’t know what’s happened, but until I find my husband I’m just going to keep looking."
In the meantime, friends have rallied around her.
"The hospital command has been very gracious and helpful, as well as the women from my church," Sherilyn Baldwin said.
In fact, she said at least one person from Protestant Women of the Chapel, a local Bible study group, "has been with me almost 24-7," bringing food, support and helping hands with the three children.
"I don’t think I could make it through this without them," she said.
Leimen area puzzled by disappearance of doctor, reported threat on soldier
By Jon R. Anderson, Stars and Stripes
HEIDELBERG, Germany — A soldier was accosted by two men with a handgun who appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent Sunday night as he was driving from his home in Leimen, Germany, near the U.S. Army Europe headquarters in Heidelberg.
"We did have a report of a soldier driving in the vicinity of Leimen at about 1830, allegedly being threatened by occupants in another vehicle," said Army spokeswoman Millie Waters. "It’s being investigated. We’re taking it seriously and we’re looking into it."
Officials refused to release any additional information.
The German police, however, confirmed they are searching for "two dark-skinned men who look Middle Eastern to the witness," according to Heidelberg Polizei officer Bernd Greuenbuhoer.
Leimen, like many of the towns in the Heidelberg area, has a large Turkish community.
Concerned that such reports could stir anti-Arab and anti-Turkish sentiments in the wake of last Tuesday’s terrorist attacks, Gruenbuhoer added that because it was getting dark around the time of the incident, that perhaps the soldier did not see clearly.
The soldier told officials the men were driving an old, yellow four-door Mercedes. The car’s registration plate number, however, did not match a car of that description.
A similar incident in another community is also being investigated, but again Army officials declined to release details.
Maj. Jon Baldwin
Meanwhile, the search continues for Maj. Jon Baldwin — also from Leimen — who has been missing since Thursday, said officials.
A family practice physician at the Heidelberg Hospital, Baldwin disappeared without a trace after leaving for work Thursday morning.
Baldwin was the commander of the Butzbach Health Clinic in Giessen for two years before being reassigned to Heidelberg last year.
"I’ve thought of everything and I just have no idea what could have happened to him," said his wife, Sherilyn, who was the last person to see him. "There’s no physical evidence that points to anything at all. He just vanished without any clues. I can’t even guess. There’s nothing."
Baldwin is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds; he is the father of three young boys including one newborn. He was driving a burgundy 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback, USAREUR registration plate number AF AB 708.
"Even when he’s going to be late for dinner, he calls," said Sherilyn Baldwin. "He’s always very thoughtful. What is so hard is that he is such an attentive, loving father. He just really loves those boys. It’s hard for me to think that he would just go off somewhere."
His cell phone has been turned off, his wife she said, since he disappeared.
"God knows where is," she said. "That’s the only thing giving me comfort right now."
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to call the military police at 06221-678-2222.
Here's the update on Jon Baldwin from Stars & Stripes from Saturday, September 29, 2001: