Disappearance of Steven Damman

Steven Craig Damman (born December 15, 1952) the son of Jerry and Marilyn Damman, disappeared along with his sister Pamela on October 31, 1955, while he was left in a stroller in front of a bakery on Long Island, New York, United States. His sister was found unharmed a few yards from the shop. He was two years old at the time of his disappearance. Authorities believe Damman was kidnapped.

Damman's family received multiple different ransom notes, including one in late November 1955 demanding $3,000 ($32,183 in 2022), then $10,000 ($107,277 in 2022), then $14,000 ($150,188 in 2022) for his return, though they were dismissed by police as hoaxes or "cruel pranks". The ransom letters sent in late November turned out to be a Queens College student who had nothing to do with Damman's disappearance.

In 2009, John Barnes of Michigan came forward, suspecting that he may have been Damman.

John Barnes
In 2009, John Barnes, of Kalkaska, Michigan, who suspected that he was Steven Damman, underwent DNA testing. On Thursday, June 18, 2009, FBI Special Agent Andrew Arena released a statement saying that "DNA samples analysed by the FBI laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, show John Barnes and Pamela Damman Horne, Steven Damman's sister, do not share the same mother." As of 2024, Damman is still missing.