Russell was last seen playing in the sandbox in his family's fenced backyard at their residence at Lynch's Trailer Park on River Road in Wheatfield, New York at 12:20 p.m. on May 5, 1982. Russell's mother went inside their home for to repair one of his toys. She stated she was gone for less than five minutes, perhaps less than one minute. Upon her return outside, she discovered her son was missing. The gate in the fence was still closed and was locked from the outside. Russell has never been seen again. Russell has a small cleft in his chin and a small mole on the left side of his chin. His upper left front tooth was chipped at the time of his 1982 disappearance. His nickname is Russie.