Still Missing & Unsolved: Ricky McCormick (St. Louis, MO 1999) & Branson Perry (Skidmore, MO 2001)

This Still Missing & Unsolved episode covers two Missouri mysteries that still resist a clean explanation: the death of Ricky McCormick, whose body was found with unreadable handwritten notes, and the disappearance of Branson Perry, who vanished from a family property in Skidmore in 2001. The episode matters because both cases show how a few surviving clues can be more frustrating than having none at all.

Ricky McCormick Case Resources

• Official Law Enforcement Files:
  • FBI Vault – Ricky McCormick Case Files: Access the fully digitized, primary documents from the FBI Laboratory's Cryptanalysis and Racketeering Records Unit (CRRU). This file contains high-resolution copies of the actual encrypted notes (labeled Q1–Q3), investigative reports, and the bureau's formal standard analysis documentation.
• Case Overview & Public Cryptography Portals:
  • Wikipedia – Ricky McCormick's Encrypted Notes: Provides a highly detailed breakdown of the timeline, the layout of the 30 rows of code, the internal contradictions regarding McCormick's literacy, and a comprehensive summary of how the case transitioned into a public-facing cryptography puzzle.
• Media Coverage & Investigative Deep Dives:
  • CBS News Investigative Profile: Detailed national coverage highlighting the FBI’s rare decision to lift case restrictions to request amateur crowd-sourced cryptanalyst support.
  • WNYC Studios – "Takeaway" Interview: An interview segment from April 2011 breaking down the unique nature of the cipher and why standard military-grade code-breaking mechanisms completely failed.

Branson Perry Case Resources

• Official Databases & Case Tracking:
  • Uncovered Case Profile – Branson Perry: A dedicated chronological visualization platform that tracks all known names, entities, and geographic points of interest tied to the 300 block of W Oak St. in Skidmore, MO.
• Recent Investigative Tracking & Local Reporting:
  • FOX4 KC – FBI Joint Investigation Report: Details regarding the FBI bringing specialized tools to northern Missouri, specifically documenting the physical tracking, excavation, and sonar examination of the remote well location in Quitman, Missouri.
  • KQ2 News St. Joseph – 25th Anniversary Reward Release: Local news coverage highlighting the 25th anniversary developments, including the active $100,000 cash reward criteria set by his brother Phillip, and the distribution of the Missouri Department of Corrections' 2026 Cold Case Playing Cards initiative (featuring Branson on the 2 of clubs).