The man known as Paul Raymond Harrod was living under a stolen identity—and then, just as suddenly as he appeared, he vanished.
The name he used belonged to a real child: Paul Raymond “Skippy” Harrod, a five-year-old boy who died in 1947 in Cedarville, Ohio. Decades later, an unidentified man assumed that identity, building a quiet life in Sheridan, Indiana—one that, in many ways, never fully added up.
He married, worked multiple jobs, and lived modestly on Worman Street. But those closest to him would later realize how little they truly knew. He had almost no personal belongings, kept a single box of items tucked away in a closet, and rarely spoke about his past.

On Thanksgiving Day — November 27, 1992, he left behind a $100 bill and a handwritten note stating he “needed to get away for a while.” He got into his 1992 white Geo Metro hatchback and drove off.

He has never been seen or heard from again.

In the days and months that followed, small and puzzling clues emerged. A bank account was opened in Hoven, South Dakota, but by the end of 1992, less than $50 remained—and there was no further activity. His vehicle later surfaced in Colorado, though investigators have never been able to determine how it got there—whether it was sold, abandoned, or moved by someone else.
Despite these scattered traces, his true identity has never been uncovered.
Those who knew him described a man of routine and discipline. He did not drink or use drugs. He worked constantly—holding multiple jobs at once, including as a janitor at St. Vincent’s Hospital, a delivery driver for Chesty Chips in Noblesville, a newspaper carrier, and work at an assisted living facility.

He had few close relationships. Known contacts included an older Black man in Indianapolis he spoke with by phone, and a young couple with several children. Otherwise, he kept to himself.

There were also subtle details that stood out. He pronounced certain words unusually—saying “water” like “wudder” or “wooder,” and “order” like “awder”—suggesting a possible Mid-Atlantic or Northeastern background. He wore his watch turned inward on his wrist and rarely wore any other jewelry.
Most notably, he had a large, unusual scar running down the center of his scalp, described as if “skin had been cut out and pulled together.” He claimed it was from a hair transplant, though that has never been confirmed. He avoided discussing it and kept it hidden beneath his hair.
Physically, he was believed to be 35–40 years old in 1992, approximately 5’5” tall, with brown hair and brown or blue eyes.
Who he really was—and why he chose to disappear—remains unknown.