Newton farmer waits for news in 54-year old kidnapping case of son

It’s been more than five decades of waiting, wondering and worrying for Jerry Damman, whose 2-year-old son was kidnapped 54 years ago without a trace, but that may all come to a close soon.

The Newton farmer learned a few months ago that Michigan-man John Barnes — who spoke with several newspapers and appeared on the “Today Show” today — has made claims that he is actually Steven Damman, who was kidnapped in 1955 outside of a bakery in Long Island, N.Y.

“I didn’t think I’d ever know what happened to him or the answer to it before I died, but maybe now I will,” said Jerry Damman, 78.

Damman and his ex-wife, Marilyn, lived in Long Island while he was stationed at Mitchel Air Force Base. On Oct. 31, 1955, Marilyn Damman went to the local bakery to pick up a few items and parked her stroller outside the store with 2-year-old Steven standing next to the stroller and the couple’s 7-month-old daughter, Pamela, strapped inside.

When Marilyn Damman returned, she found the stroller missing. Eventually the stroller was found a few blocks from the store. Pamela was safe and sound still in the stroller. Young Steven was missing. Damman said law enforcement officials searched for his son, and leads were followed but went nowhere.

“There were quite a few leads,” Damman said. “Just never the right ones.”

Days and weeks and months went by. In 1956, Damman moved his young family back to Newton to the town where he grew up as a boy. Jerry and Marilyn eventually divorced in 1958.

Damman remarried and has been with his wife, Charlotte, for nearly 50 years. They have two sons together. Damman said the family doesn’t talk much about Steven, but his son is never too far from his thoughts.

“We don’t really talk about it. It’s been all these years, and still, I constantly think about it all the time,” he said.

Steven Damman’s disappearance resurfaced last fall when a stranger visited the Newton family’s farm. Charlotte Damman answered the door to a mystery man who asked questions and wanted to speak with Jerry Damman who was not home at the time.

“She sent him to the other farm to find me but he never showed up. The same man also tried to reach my daughter,” said Damman, who would not say if the mystery man and Barnes were one and the same.

The mysterious fall visitor is not the only one showing up on Damman’s doorstep. Reporters from around the nation showed up at his 300-acre Jasper County farm Tuesday. The 78-year-old man said he’s trying to maintain some sense of normalcy and privacy, but his phone has been ringing off the hook since 5 a.m. Tuesday from

news shows like “Today,” “48 Hours” and “Larry King,” along with reporters from several newspapers around the country and world.

“I’m not a person who likes attention much. I’m about ready to take the phone off the wall,” he said. “It’s a bit premature. We don’t really know anything.”

The Newton man hopes he’ll learn something soon, until then he continues his wait.

“It’s a flip of the coin right now. It possibly could be him,” Damman said. “You hope that finally we’ve found him. But after a while you become guarded, I think a person does that. Early on we had quite a few disappointments so after a while you guard yourself from false hope.”

Damman said his daughter, Pamela, now 54, who was with her brother when he was abducted is anxious to learn the truth too.

“She’d also like to know the true answer,” he said. Pamela Damman Greer appeared on the “Today” show with her two children and Barnes today.

The family is waiting for the investigation to continue and to learn whether or not Barnes is in fact Steven Damman.

“You have to be prepared for a yes or a no,” said Damman.

If indeed tests are conclusive that the unidentified man is Damman’s son, he said he will be happy to reconnect with him but is worried how the news may effect the son he hasn’t seen for 54 years.

“In a way, I think it would be difficult to try and reconnect with him,” said Damman, “but really, in a way, his situation is much worse because he didn’t know who his real parents are. He doesn’t know his real life story.”

Jessica Lowe can be contacted at 792-3121 ext. 426 or via e-mail at jlowe@newtondailynews.com.