Above: Sir-Kristopher Marshall in 1977 (left) and an age-progressed image to 37, circa 2010 (right)
Above: Violet Matory in 1977 (left) and an age-progressed image to 44, circa 2011 (right)
Above: Yolanda Willams in 1977 (left) and an age-progressed image to 42, circa 2011 (right)
Sir-Kristopher Clayton Marshall, Violet Bobbie Matory, and Yolanda Marie Willams
Last seen on July 20, 1977 in Los Angeles, California
Vital statistics: Sir-Kristopher is a biracial (black/white) male. He was born on September 11, 1973. Curly brown hair with a reddish tint, brown eyes. He has a four-inch long scar on his back, scar tissue on both of his feet and on his ankles, and a very light complexion. His nickname is "Turkey Legs." Some agencies give his middle name as "Clay." Last seen wearing a red and white striped t-shirt, brown jeans with a brown belt, and blue sneakers. Was three at the time. Violet is a black female. She was born on September 22, 1967. Black hair, brown eyes. Last seen wearing a white t-shirt with writing on the front, blue jeans and multi-colored thong sandals. Was nine at the time. Yolanda is a black female. She was born on September 5, 1969. Black hair, brown eyes. Last seen wearing a blue jumpsuit. Was seven at the time.
Circumstances: Marshall spent the night at the Matory and Williams residence along with the mother of Matory children and Yolanda, Earlene Williams. At the time she was separated from James Williams, Yolanda's father, because Ivy alleged he had abused her; at the time he had charges pending for child molestation and rape. The house burned down that night and Earlene was found deceased the next morning, a victim of homicide; an autopsy would show she had been strangled. There was a trail of blood leading from the house to an alley. The next day, July 21, James Williams and the children were seen at a Denny's restaurant in Grapevine at approximately 5:30 AM. James Williams was picked up by friends in Riverside later that day, but did not have the children with him. He was questioned and released at first, but arrested when the autopsy of Earlene revealed a homicide. He was convicted of the murder of Earlene and was charged with the deaths of the children; the outcome of that case is unknown. Sir-Kristopher is classified as a Non-Family Abduction; Ivy, Violet and Yolanda are classified as Endangered Missing. Foul play is suspected.
Theories: This case is amazingly tangled. It took several sites and contacts to figure out the basic facts. Even with that, a long conversation with law enforcement had to be held to fill in the gaps. The Matory children were not placed on the website for the California Missing Person's Registry for some time, and Williams and Marshall have their classifications reversed. Other sources said they may be in the company of James Williams, despite the fact he was arrested and convicted of murder. (He is now deceased.) A grim picture has emerged. The fact he was later seen with the children is of some comfort, because it is clear he did not kill them right away. But if they are not dead, where could they be? He was seen a few hours later without any of them, and never divulged their whereabouts. (He claimed to have been traveling to Bakersfield when his car broke down and he spent the night there; he had a cut hand which he said he got trying to repair his car.) On the other side, if they are all dead, where did he kill them, and where are the bodies hidden? No unidentified victims in California match the description of any of the children. A Jane Doe in St. Louis found in 1983 is approximately what Yolanda's age would be at the time, but if it is her, where was she the whole time? And where are the others? The Los Angeles County Sheriff's office is putting the remaining three into the NCMEC. Perhaps that will lead to a break on the case. But unfortunately, it is likely that the break will not be a happy one.
Update: Ivy Matory's remains were found in Corona, California in 2014 and have since been identifed. The other children remain missing.
If you have any information on Marshall's, Matory's or Williams' wherebouts, please e-mail For The Lost at this address. Or you may contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department at 323-526-5541. Any tips sent by e-mail will be kept confidential.
Information used to compile this case file came from the following locations:
The National Center For Missing and Exploited Children
The Charley Project
The Doe Network
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Office
California Missing Persons Registry
The Long Beach Independent
NamUs National Missing Persons Data System
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