Ruland, James

Missing Since: October 24, 1995
Missing From: Ripon, Fond Du Lac County

Age: 40 years old

Date of Birth: June 23, 1955
Sex: Male
Race: White
Height and Weight: 6'0, 160 pounds
Clothing: A green camouflage-print jacket
Hair: Brown, a mustache

Eyes: Blue, silver or gold wire-rimmed eyeglasses

Medical: Has two damaged fingers on his right hand and a plate implanted in the back of his head. He has scars on his forehead, his left knee and the back of his neck
Parents: William & Marcelaine Renninger Ruland

Exclusions: 8

Details of Disappearance

James S. Ruland was last seen October 24,1995.

Ruland’s sister reported him missing nine days after he was last seen. His vehicle, with the keys still in the ignition, was located at the Stretch Truck Stop, 500 block east Pioneer Road, Fond Du Lac along with the keys and personal effects.

From Charley Project:

"In the two weeks prior to his disappearance, Ruland got a new car and asked his parents, who lived in Florida, to mail him $2,500. They did so on October 16. On November 2, he didn't pick up his paycheck. Over a week later, Ruland's car was found. There was blood on one of the car tires, and cigars in the front of the vehicle; Ruland did not smoke.

Ruland's roommate in Ripon, Jerome Baier, cashed the $2,500 check Ruland's parents mailed him, and also used another check made out to Ruland, for $46,32, to pay the gas company on November 1. Baier was charged with two counts of forgery and one count of uttering a forged check. Investigators searched Baier's pig farm in 1997 but didn't find sufficient evidence to charge Baier in his roommate's disappearance.

In 2000, the message "James Ruland lies here" was found written on near the bathtub in the Ripon house that Ruland and Baier had once shared. Authorities investigated the writing, and Baier's sons admitted they'd written it there as A JOKE."

Vicap has a slightly different date missing and information: On Thursday, October 26, 1995, James S. Ruland was last seen hitchhiking in North Fond du Lac.