By Dennis McCaslin, Editor and Publisher of Today in Fort Smith
It has been nearly three decades since six-year-old Morgan Nick vanished from a ballpark in Alma on a warm June evening in 1995. Despite countless hours of investigation, numerous leads, and the tireless efforts of law enforcement, her disappearance remains one of the most heartbreaking and perplexing unsolved cases in our state’s history.
As time passes, the questions surrounding Morgan's disappearance grow more pressing, especially as key details continue to be overlooked.
One such detail, according to sources close to the investigation, is the comment made to Morgan and the other children by a man at the ballpark that night. The man reportedly scolded the children for breaking glass bottles in the parking lot, warning them that someone might cut their feet on the shards.
This seemingly innocuous interaction raises serious questions that have yet to be fully addressed by investigators. Why has this detail been glossed over? Why haven’t authorities focused on this potential clue as a starting point for identifying Morgan’s abductor—or at the very least, a witness who could provide crucial information?
Let’s consider the circumstances. The man’s concern about broken glass in the parking lot suggests a level of familiarity with the area. His warning to the children indicates that he might have been a local, someone who cared enough about the community to worry about the safety of others at the ball field.
This wasn’t a stranger passing through; this was someone who likely had a connection to Alma, someone who might have known the area well.
If this man was indeed local, why haven’t investigators pursued this angle more aggressively? The possibility that he could be a key witness—or even someone with vital information—cannot be ignored. Yet, here we are, nearly 30 years later, still chasing shadows while a critical detail remains unexplored.
The children described the man as “creepy,” but let’s put ourselves in their shoes. They were young, caught doing something they knew was wrong, and scolded by a stranger.
It’s not hard to imagine that the interaction would have made them uncomfortable. But does that discomfort automatically make the man a suspect?
According to an anonymous source, FBI profilers tasked with analyzing the case have determined that this man was, indeed, just a “creepy” figure—nothing more, nothing less. They do not believe he was Morgan’s abductor.
If it is true that the FBI is confident that this man did not kidnap Morgan, then why has this information not been made clear to the public? Why is this man still being viewed as a potential suspect rather than as a witness who might hold the key to solving the case? It’s time for the authorities to be transparent with the community and to redirect their efforts accordingly.
Let’s consider the possibility that this man didn’t abduct Morgan. If that’s the case, why hasn’t he come forward? The most logical explanation is fear.
Fear of being blamed for the crime, fear of becoming entangled in a high-profile investigation, or fear of public scrutiny.
But this fear should not prevent law enforcement from finding him.
On the contrary, it should compel them to seek him out, to assure him that he is not a suspect but a potential witness who could help bring closure to a case that has haunted Alma for nearly three decades.
If this man saw something that night—something that could lead to answers—then it is the responsibility of the investigators to find him and encourage him to speak up. This man could hold the missing piece of the puzzle, the clue that has eluded investigators for so long.
But if he continues to be viewed as a suspect rather than a witness, we may never get the answers we so desperately need.
As a community, we must demand that the investigation into Morgan Nick’s disappearance be re-examined with fresh eyes and an open mind. The focus must shift from the pursuit of dead-end leads to the thorough investigation of every detail, no matter how small it may seem.
Where is this man? Why hasn’t he come forward? And why aren’t the authorities doing everything in their power to find him and learn what he knows? The time for complacency is over. We owe it to Morgan, her family, and our community to leave no stone unturned in the search for the truth.
The disappearance of Morgan Nick has left a permanent scar on the town of Alma, and as long as this case remains unsolved, that wound will never fully heal. It’s time for answers. It’s time for action.
And it’s time for the authorities to focus on the details that matter most—before it’s too late.
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