Vanished Without a Trace

Vanished Without a Trace: The Disappearance of Diamond Bynum and King Walker

On the morning of July 25, 2015, a quiet block on Matthews Street in Gary, Indiana became the center of a mystery that still haunts investigators, family members, and the surrounding community nearly a decade later.

Twenty-one-year-old Diamond Bynum and her two-year-old nephew King Walker vanished sometime between mid-morning and late morning from the home where Diamond lived with her father and stepmother. Despite search operations, national alerts, reported sightings, and years of investigation, authorities have never located the pair or identified anyone responsible for their disappearance.

The case is unusual not only because two people disappeared at the same time, but because both were extremely vulnerable: a young woman with a developmental disability and a toddler who depended entirely on the adults around him. Their disappearance has produced theories ranging from wandering accidents to abduction, yet almost every path investigators followed eventually ran into the same problem—there was almost no physical evidence to guide them.

Nearly ten years later, the questions remain: What happened during that short window of time on a summer morning in Gary? Did Diamond leave the house voluntarily? Did someone encounter them after they stepped outside? Or did something happen nearby that investigators simply have never discovered?

To understand why this case remains unresolved, it is necessary to look closely at who Diamond and King were, what investigators know about the day they disappeared, and why the search for answers has proven so difficult.



The Victims

Diamond Bynum

Diamond Bynum was 21 years old at the time of her disappearance. She lived in Gary, Indiana with her father, Eugene Bynum Jr., and her stepmother, Suzanne Bynum. The family had moved to the area from Illinois only months earlier.

Diamond had been diagnosed with Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects physical growth, cognitive ability, and appetite regulation. Individuals with the condition often experience developmental delays and intellectual disabilities, along with an intense, constant feeling of hunger. Family members and investigators said Diamond’s cognitive functioning was similar to that of a young child.

Physically, Diamond was distinctive and easy to recognize. She stood approximately 4 feet 8 inches tall and weighed around 230 to 240 pounds. She walked with a noticeable limp due to a bowed leg and had distinctive dental alignment. These characteristics made her someone people in the neighborhood would likely remember seeing.

Family members said Diamond sometimes wandered short distances around the neighborhood in search of food. Because of her condition, she frequently felt hungry and was known to ask people for something to eat. However, relatives said she rarely traveled far and typically stayed within a few blocks of home.

Those who knew her described her as friendly and trusting. That trust, investigators later noted, could also make her vulnerable to strangers.



King Walker

King Walker was just two years old when he disappeared.

He had dreadlocks and weighed about 34 pounds. Like most toddlers his age, he was energetic and curious. Family members described him as playful and active.

King lived primarily with his mother but spent time with relatives, including Diamond and his grandparents. On the day he disappeared, he had been dropped off at the Bynum home earlier that morning.

Because of his age, investigators believed King would not have been capable of traveling far on his own.



The Neighborhood

The disappearance occurred in the 500 block of Matthews Street in Gary, Indiana.

Gary, once a thriving steel industry city, has struggled with economic decline for decades. Many neighborhoods contain vacant lots and abandoned houses left behind after residents moved away.

At the time of the disappearance, the surrounding area included:

- residential homes
- vacant lots
- abandoned buildings
- railroad tracks
- nearby gas stations and fast-food restaurants

Investigators would later acknowledge that Gary’s large number of abandoned structures posed a major challenge. Searching every building thoroughly was extremely difficult and sometimes dangerous.



Timeline of July 25, 2015

Early Morning

On the morning of July 25, King’s mother dropped him off at the Bynum home before heading to a class in Chicago.

Inside the home at the time were:

- Diamond Bynum
- Suzanne Bynum (Diamond’s stepmother)
- King Walker

Nothing unusual was reported during the early part of the morning.



Around 10:20 a.m.

Diamond and King were last confirmed seen inside the house.

Exactly what happened next remains unclear.


Between 10:20 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Suzanne Bynum went to lie down for a nap.

During this window of time, Diamond and King apparently left the house.

It is not known whether Diamond intended to take King outside for a short walk or whether the toddler followed her out of the house.



Around 11:00 a.m.

Suzanne woke up and noticed that both Diamond and King were gone.

Initially, the family believed Diamond might have taken King to a nearby store or restaurant. Because Diamond sometimes wandered short distances looking for food, this seemed possible.

But when the pair did not return, concern grew.

Eventually the family contacted authorities, and police began searching the area.



The Initial Police Response

Gary police began canvassing the neighborhood shortly after receiving the report that Diamond and King were missing.

Because Diamond had a developmental disability, authorities issued a Silver Alert. Silver Alerts are used to help locate missing adults with mental impairments or cognitive conditions.

Local residents were asked to watch for a short woman with a limp walking with a toddler.

Officers knocked on doors and spoke with neighbors, hoping someone had seen the pair leave the house or walk down the street.

No one reported witnessing them leave.



K-9 Tracking Evidence

One of the most significant clues in the case came from tracking dogs.

K-9 units followed the scent believed to belong to Diamond and King from the house down Matthews Street. The dogs continued tracking the scent toward a nearby gas station and the railroad tracks located not far from the home.

Then the scent abruptly stopped.

For investigators, this raised an important possibility: Diamond and King may have entered a vehicle at that location.

However, scent trails can also disappear due to environmental factors such as weather conditions, foot traffic, or contamination from other scents.

Because no witnesses reported seeing a vehicle pick them up, investigators were left with more questions than answers.



Large Search Operations

In the days following the disappearance, search efforts expanded significantly.

Authorities searched:

- nearby streets
- empty lots
- abandoned homes
- wooded areas
- railroad corridors
- local businesses

Volunteers joined police officers to help comb through the neighborhood.

Search teams covered roughly two dozen city blocks surrounding the home.

Despite the extensive effort, nothing was found.

No clothing, no personal belongings, and no signs of where the pair might have gone.



Witness Sightings

Several individuals later reported seeing someone matching Diamond’s description with a young child.

However, none of these sightings were confirmed.



Bus Stop Report

One witness said they saw Diamond at a bus stop asking for food.

The person claimed they gave her fifty dollars.

However, the report did not clearly confirm whether King was with her.

Investigators could not verify the sighting.



McDonald’s Tip

A worker at a McDonald’s believed they saw Diamond and a small child resembling King.

Police investigated the tip but could not confirm the sighting.



Chicago Checkers Sighting

One of the most widely discussed reports came from Chicago.

Witnesses claimed they saw Diamond and King eating at a Checkers restaurant in the Roseland neighborhood.

According to the report, they were accompanied by an unidentified woman.

Roseland is more than twenty miles from Gary.

Investigators attempted to verify the sighting but were unable to confirm it.



Investigative Challenges

Several factors complicated the investigation.

First was the lack of physical evidence. No surveillance footage showed the pair leaving the home or walking through the neighborhood.

Second was Diamond’s disability. While it meant she might have wandered without understanding the danger, it also meant traveling long distances would likely have been difficult.

Third was the environment. Gary’s abandoned buildings created countless places where someone could disappear without being easily discovered.



Individuals Investigated

During the investigation, police questioned at least one registered sex offender living in the area.

Authorities later said the individual was no longer considered a suspect.

No arrests have ever been made in connection with the case.



Theories About What Happened

Over the years, several theories have emerged.

Wandering Accident

Some believe Diamond left the house with King and became disoriented while walking through the neighborhood.

However, search teams covered a large area and found no trace of them.



Abandoned Building Accident

Because Gary has so many vacant structures, investigators considered the possibility that the pair entered an abandoned house and suffered an accident.

Such buildings can contain unstable floors, debris, and other hazards.



Vehicle Pickup

The K-9 scent trail ending near the gas station raised the possibility that someone picked them up in a vehicle.

Whether that person intended to help or harm them remains unknown.



Abduction

Another possibility is that someone encountered Diamond and King and took advantage of their vulnerability.

But no evidence has surfaced to confirm this theory.



Years Without Answers

Over time investigators continued receiving tips, some suggesting sightings in other states including Florida.

None were confirmed.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children later released an age-progression image showing what King might look like as he grew older.



Where the Case Stands Today

The disappearance of Diamond Bynum and King Walker remains unsolved.

If they are alive today, King would now be around twelve years old and Diamond would be in her early thirties.

Gary police continue to ask anyone with information to come forward.

For the families involved, the uncertainty remains painful. Without answers, they are left wondering what happened during that brief period of time on a summer morning when two vulnerable people stepped outside and never returned.

Nearly a decade later, the mystery of Diamond Bynum and King Walker remains one of Indiana’s most troubling unsolved disappearances.