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Without a Trace - The Cold Case of Marcus Rutledge Nashville TN · Murder Files Unsealed

• 0:00
  The cold case investigators are optimistic for a breakthrough in the nineteen ninety eight disappearance
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  of a young father, Marcus Rutledge, who was twenty three years old at
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  the time, vanished without a trace. His family has provided details about the
• 0:16
  former Tennessee State University student and his puzzling disappearance to Dateline correspondent Josh Mankiwitch for
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  season three of The Dateline. After more than twenty six years, Marcus's loved
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  ones still believe that it is absolutely possible that he is still alive. I
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  wonder whether or not Marcus was actually into something that was bigger than he was,
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  and he was actually trying to get away, just to leave and leave
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  no trace. The missing man's father, David Rutledge, told Mankewitch for the
• 0:51
  podcast's Missing in Music City episode, who was Marcus Rutledge. Marcus Rutledge was
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  born to David and Jerry Rutlidge in Ipso Delante, Michigan, located a short
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  distance east of Anne Arbor. David Rutledge described his son as a lively infant
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  who grew into an energetic young boy, excelling in academics. Felicia, Marcus's
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  older sister, by two and a half years. Reminisced about their mischievous adventures
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  when their parents were away. She fondly remembered the times they spent together,
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  inviting friends over as soon as their parents left the house. According to Felicia,
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  Marcus possessed a kind and genuine heart, much like the rest of their
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  family. All three siblings, along with their parents, attended Tennessee State University.
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  After spending a few years together on campus in Nashville, Felicia returned to
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  Michigan, but kept in close contact with Marcus, regularly checking in on him
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  to ensure he was doing well in his studies and making friends at the university.
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  Marcus and Valencia Bryant first crossed paths during their freshman year at college,
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  shortly after Bryant found out she was pregnant with Marcus's child when they were both
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  eighteen. It was a mix of fear and excitement, but overall, I
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  was very happy. Bryant shared with date line, and he seemed to feel
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  the same way. Once the initial shock wore off, Marcus hesitated to inform
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  his family for as long as possible, but eventually mustered the courage to reveal
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  that they were now grandparents to baby Darius. A week later, marcus family
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  traveled to Tennessee to meet the newborn. The challenges of being young parents in
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  college led Bryant to move back in with her family in Knoxville, while Marcus
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  continued his studies at t SU. He did his best, given our age,
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  his status as a college student, and our geographical separation. Bryant remarked
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  he always made sure to check on Darius, always insuring his well being.
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  By June of nineteen ninety eight, Marcus and Bryant had parted ways romantically,
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  but remained incredibly close. They were in the midst of planning a carnival themed
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  birthday celebration for their son, who was about to turn four. However,
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  Marcus suddenly disappeared. What happened the day Marcus Rutledge disappeared on June eighth,
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  nineteen ninety eight, Marcus's new girlfriend, Tuania, contacted the Rutledge family in
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  Michigan to inform them that she was unable to reach him after he failed to
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  show up for their scheduled meeting earlier that day. His sister then made several
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  attempts to call his cell phone, but received no response. According to Marcus's
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  family. He had recently moved out of an apartment he shared with his best
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  friend Athan Gibbs, and was now living in his own place in Nashville.
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  Twania informed the Rutledge family that she and Gibbs had gone to Marcus's apartment to
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  check on him, entering through a window. The place doesn't look ransacked,
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  but it does look like nobody's been there for a while, marcus dad,
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  David told Dateline. Matthew Filter, a detective specializing in cold cases at the
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  Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, informed Dateline Missing in America that Tuania notified authorities about
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  her boyfriend Marcus's disappearance at seven thirty five pm on June eighth. She was
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  the final individual known to have seen him. The last time Tiwania saw Marcus
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  was in the morning when he departed from her residence. Filter mentioned that she
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  had a conversation with him around one thirty PM. Later on, when she
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  attempted to contact him, he did not answer any calls or voicemails. Investigators
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  search for clues in the case. Upon their arrival in Nashville, Marcus's sister
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  and parents embarked on a journey to uncover the truth behind his disappearance. Upon
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  reaching their destination, they were startled to find that his car, a four
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  door nineteen ninety five Plymouth Neon bearing Michigan license plates, was nowhere to be
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  seen. Local Nashville news outlets extensively covered Marcus's mysterious disappearance and shared details about
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  his missing vehicle. It wasn't until twenty three days later that the car was
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  finally located, over twenty miles away from marcus residence. Detective Filter revealed the
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  vehicle was located at the Riverwood Apartments, situated on Cabot Drive, which is
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  located on the western side of Nashville. He further stated upon inspection, no
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  concrete evidence was found within the car. There were no traces of blood or anything