Name: Donald Ray Fortson
Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: November 3, 1998
Location Last Seen: Cleveland, Blount County, Alabama
Date of Birth: December 10, 1945
Age: 52 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 5'10"
Weight: 150 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Nickname/Alias: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Available
DNA: Initial inquiry underway
Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Donald Ray Fortson and his nephew, Huey Hazelrig , were last seen in the Cleveland area. Police found the pickup truck they were last seen in engulfed in flames along Warrior Valley Road just inside Etowah County.
A friend last saw the two men together at Hazelrig's trailer and said they left together about 3:30 p.m. to go check on a car. Hazelrig collected antique cars. He made a long distance call before he left.
Hazelrig took $3000 with him when he went to look at the car. Hazelrig was a full-time farmer and he and his uncle also worked together on wallboard jobs. Both men left thousands of dollars in their bank accounts - money that has not been touched.
Both had been in trouble before but nothing too serious. Fortson was convicted of several alcohol-related charges in the mid-1990s.
Hazelrig and his uncle lived together and often worked together on gypsum wallboard jobs. Family members describe Fortson as a humble man who years ago lost his daughter to murder.
There is a strong suspicion of foul play.
Agency Name: Blount County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: N/A
Agency Phone Number: 205-625-4127
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: Unknown
NamUs Case Number: 4485
NCIC Case Number: M168728991
NamUs
Alabama Department of Public Safety
Birmingham News Archive - 11/5/01
Added: 2/25/07; Last Updated: 11-13-2021 - By: Htmlcnvtr
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information is from the time of disappearance.
Return Home