New age-progression photo released for Columbus man missing over 17 years

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COLUMBUS (WCMH) – The Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation has released a new photo to spark the investigation of a Columbus man who went missing over 17 years ago.

Andrew “Andy” Chapman disappeared from his Hilltop home, having last contacted his family on Dec. 8, 2006. At 32 years old, Chapman vanished without taking his vehicle or any personal belongings.

At the time of his disappearance, Andy was 6 feet tall and weighed 175 pounds. A BCI forensic artist created a facial reconstruction model to produce an age-progression image of what Andy, who would be 49, might look like today.

Andy’s family members originally believed in December 2006 that his disappearance was related to his struggle with addiction, stemming from a car accident in 2004. But after not hearing from him for about three months, they filed a missing person’s report in March 2007.

Several months prior to his disappearance, Andy requested money from his retirement fund. At the end of November 2006, a short time before he vanished, Andy received a check for close to $39,000, according to Andy’s sister Aimee Chapman. 

Aimee said the check was originally mailed to an address Andy was evicted from a month prior, so his family doesn’t know how he ended up getting the check. The check was cashed a car was purchased for about $14,000, Aimee said.

His last known address was on Whitethorne Avenue, where he lived with two roommates. Aimee claims that in July 2007, a family member of one of Andy’s former roommates transferred the car title into their name without the knowledge of Andy’s family, who originally didn’t know the car existed.

Aimee believes the car and the money Andy received may be related to his disappearance. There is no trace of the rest of the money Andy took out from his retirement fund. 

“You don’t disappear and leave the car you just bought,” Aimee said. “There’s no trace of the money and no trace of Andy.” 

Aimee said Andy reportedly called his mother on Dec. 8 and told her he had something to urgently tell her. He went missing later that day.

The reward raised by the Chapman family to anyone who can offer information leading to Andy’s location has now reached $4,800. Central Ohio Crime Stoppers urges anyone with information to call 614-461-TIPS (8477) or visit www.centralohiocrimestoppers.org and e-mail your tip.