JERRY MICHAEL “MIKE” BAYLES
OCTOBER 18, 1959 – OCTOBER 3, 1970
OCTOBER 18, 1959 – OCTOBER 3, 1970
Born Jerry Michael Bayles, he preferred to be called Mike, October 18th 1959 in Indianapolis. His parents were Fannie Lucille Bayles (Strong) and Gerald B. Bayles.
Mike’s siblings were older brother Gordon “Buddy”, and John older sister Rhonda, and younger brother and James “Jimmy” with a sister Carol.
Mikes Father worked a few jobs as a truck driver after Mike was born, including Sutherland Lumber, Frazier Tree and Lawn Service, Overland Freight and Hudson Oil of Delaware at 3223 West Washington Street. At the time of the abduction he was unemployed do to a strike.
From around 1960 to 1970 the Bayles family moved a few times starting at 1215 North Broadway, 3825 West Washington Street and then at 2825 West Jackson Street in the small west Indianapolis neighborhood of Mount Jackson.
Mike attended school at Indianapolis Public School #50, Nathaniel Hawthorne at the corner of North Belleview and West Ohio, were his was in the 5th grade. Just a few days prior to Mike’s abduction Mike was running relays with his gym class at the school’s gym.
Mike was a Traffic Guard for his school with his guard post at West Washington Street and Warman Avenue, along with an adult guard “Miss Kelly”. Who Mike got along with.
Only four foot four and sixty five pounds with red haired Mike has been described a quiet, shy boy always smiling. He hung out sometimes at Laundry Center on West Washington Street, where he would ask help out by taking out the trash and empty coke bottles and given a few dollars for his work.
On the morning of October 3rd, 1970, “Buddy” was sick and Mike took his place on his paper route of the Indianapolis Star. Mike pick up forty eight papers at the District Circulation Office in the alley rear of the gas station at 2504 West Washington Street.
Within two blocks at the alley west and South Harris Street Mike was abducted by a man at knife point, who a witness later reported said he was Mike’s father and that Mike had run away from home.
With only two papers delivered, Mike’s bike was found at 12 South Harris Street by the resident, with the chain off and the rear fender bent in.
The next hour was Mike’s last, for between 05:25 and 06:30 Mike was stripped, stabbed nine times, eight to the abdomen and one to the back of the neck and left for dead on a Henry County road thirty eight miles east, near the city of Knightstown, Indiana, At 09:30 Mikes body was found by a farmer. Mike death was from internal bleeding from the wounds.
All but a very few of Mike’s family members are alive, his brother John and a few nieces and nephews.
No one has been charge with the abduction and murder of Mike. His classmates from IPS School 50 have fondly remembered of him, and I a friend Mike never know but have had now for forty three years.
Mike, from your friends and myself your memory will never be forgotten, as I swore on your grave I will never give up on you, rest in peace, my friend!
William Ott
January 31st, 2014
Mike’s siblings were older brother Gordon “Buddy”, and John older sister Rhonda, and younger brother and James “Jimmy” with a sister Carol.
Mikes Father worked a few jobs as a truck driver after Mike was born, including Sutherland Lumber, Frazier Tree and Lawn Service, Overland Freight and Hudson Oil of Delaware at 3223 West Washington Street. At the time of the abduction he was unemployed do to a strike.
From around 1960 to 1970 the Bayles family moved a few times starting at 1215 North Broadway, 3825 West Washington Street and then at 2825 West Jackson Street in the small west Indianapolis neighborhood of Mount Jackson.
Mike attended school at Indianapolis Public School #50, Nathaniel Hawthorne at the corner of North Belleview and West Ohio, were his was in the 5th grade. Just a few days prior to Mike’s abduction Mike was running relays with his gym class at the school’s gym.
Mike was a Traffic Guard for his school with his guard post at West Washington Street and Warman Avenue, along with an adult guard “Miss Kelly”. Who Mike got along with.
Only four foot four and sixty five pounds with red haired Mike has been described a quiet, shy boy always smiling. He hung out sometimes at Laundry Center on West Washington Street, where he would ask help out by taking out the trash and empty coke bottles and given a few dollars for his work.
On the morning of October 3rd, 1970, “Buddy” was sick and Mike took his place on his paper route of the Indianapolis Star. Mike pick up forty eight papers at the District Circulation Office in the alley rear of the gas station at 2504 West Washington Street.
Within two blocks at the alley west and South Harris Street Mike was abducted by a man at knife point, who a witness later reported said he was Mike’s father and that Mike had run away from home.
With only two papers delivered, Mike’s bike was found at 12 South Harris Street by the resident, with the chain off and the rear fender bent in.
The next hour was Mike’s last, for between 05:25 and 06:30 Mike was stripped, stabbed nine times, eight to the abdomen and one to the back of the neck and left for dead on a Henry County road thirty eight miles east, near the city of Knightstown, Indiana, At 09:30 Mikes body was found by a farmer. Mike death was from internal bleeding from the wounds.
All but a very few of Mike’s family members are alive, his brother John and a few nieces and nephews.
No one has been charge with the abduction and murder of Mike. His classmates from IPS School 50 have fondly remembered of him, and I a friend Mike never know but have had now for forty three years.
Mike, from your friends and myself your memory will never be forgotten, as I swore on your grave I will never give up on you, rest in peace, my friend!
William Ott
January 31st, 2014