Missing Man: Shawn "Maz" McDonald--LA--06/03/2009

[Kelly]

Print a Poster: http://www.projectjason.org/aan/AAN_ShawnMcDonald.pdf


Project Jason Profile:




Name: Shawn McDonald

Alias:  Marzipan, "Maz"
Date of Birth:  09/08/1970
Date Missing:  06/03/2009
Age at time of disappearance:  39
City Missing From:  New Orleans
State Missing From:  Louisiana
Gender:  Male
Race:  White
Height:  5 ft 7 in
Weight:  140 lbs
Hair Color: Red
Hair (other): Balding on top
Eye Color: Blue
Complexion: Light

Identifying Characteristics: Shawn has a round scar on the right side of his lip.

Clothing: He was wearing dark-colored cutoffs and a brown t-shirt.

Jewelry:  None

Circumstances of Disappearance: Shawn/Maz is a street musician, a classical guitarist, and a silver mime. He worked on the night of June 3rd, and came home around 9:30pm. He went for a walk at about 10 pm, taking his guitar and a small amount of tip money he made that night. His bicycle had a flat tire, so it was left behind. It is assumed that he spent the night with a male acquaintance, whom he had spent time with prior to his disappearance. The next day the male acquaintance stated that Maz went to Arkansas with a fellow musician, who later said that he had asked Maz to go, but he had refused.

According to friends, Maz is very taken with the French Quarter and his life there. He is featured in 3 books and a new documentary about street performers, and he was making his own film, which was from CSU (College of the Arts). Maz was also spending time in very dangerous areas in St. Cladue and Franklin Ave. He is very trusting. June 3rd was the last time anyone saw or heard from him.

Medical Conditions: Shawn has post traumatic stress and is obsessive compulsive. He doesn't like sudden changes and will not hitchhike.  

Investigative Agency:  New Orleans Police Department
Agency Phone:  (504) 658-6050
Investigative Case #:  F-28657-09

[Kelly]

Newyorker.com: Sean Plays "Romance," by Dan Baum
You Tube video of Shawn playing his guitar.

Shawn featured in New Yorker journal:

http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/neworleansjournal/2007/04/romance.html

Shawn is also involved in Kamp Katrina, a local group which assists street performers with housing issues which came as a result of hurricane devastation: http://www.myspace.com/kampkatrina9

[Kelly]

Kamp Katrina Speaks part 1
Shawn/Maz is seen in this film at about 2:22 and 7:35.

Kamp Katrina Speaks part 2.
Shawn/Maz appears in this film at approx 3:52 and 5:09.

[Kelly]

AAN Poster Notify Sent to AAN Subscribers   Code 49

Help us find the missing: Become an AAN Member and receive notifications about missing persons via email.

Click here to become a part of the solution: http://www.projectjason.org/awareness.html

[Kelly]

A Project Jason Press Release:


Investigators Search for Recently Missing New Orleans Street Performer

New Orleans, LA -- July 6, 2009 – The fascinating lives of New Orleans
street performers are often in the newspapers and on TV news because they
live such unusual lives, are so very talented, and are adored by the
public.  Street performers were in the news, too, after Hurricane Katrina,
when they banded together to help each other at Kamp Katrina, established
to house street performers displaced by the disaster.

A piece of unwelcome news, though, is the recent disappearance of one of
their own.

Kamp Katrina volunteer Shawn “Maz” McDonald, a gifted guitarist and an
accomplished, long time “Silver Mime,” (a street mime who dresses in all
silver clothes and face paint), has not been seen since June 3rd, and to
the locals in New Orleans and the community of street performers, this is
a frightening disappearance hitting way too close to home.

Linda Scott, known as MS Pearl on these famous streets, has seen more
tragedy in her years than most. She’s lived through hurricanes and lost
loved ones, but she’s never had an experience that stopped her in her
tracks…..until now.  “I’ve never known a feeling like this. I am so
frightened for Maz, as I know he would not leave without telling us. He
loves his work, his friends, and the French Quarter,” Linda stated.  “He’s
well known on the streets, so we know that someone knows what has
happened.”

McDonald has been featured in three books, a documentary, and other
countless videos about New Orleans street performers. He was also featured
in a “New Yorker Magazine” blog by writer Dan Baum, who wrote “At one
point, he took out his guitar. From his appearance, I expected him to play
something by Megadeth or Black Sabbath. Instead, with the guitar cocked
upright on his left knee and his filthy fingers dancing over the strings,
he played a lilting Spanish classical tune.”

McDonald’s friends and family are asking the media to tell of the
disappearance of this beloved man, and show his photos and/or videos, in
hopes these media outlets can get the public’s help to locate him in a
timely manner. Friends and family are afraid for his safety.  Those who
know him say it’s highly unlikely that he would have ventured off to other
regions or accepted rides with strangers since he has post traumatic
stress that makes him reticent about new surroundings.

Circumstances

He worked as a street performer in his usual fashion on the night of June
3rd, and returned home around 9:30pm. He went for a walk at about 10 pm,
taking his guitar and a small amount of tip money he made that night. It
is assumed that he spent the night with a male acquaintance, with whom he
had spent time prior to his disappearance. The next day the male
acquaintance stated that Maz went to Arkansas with a fellow musician, but
that musician later said that he had asked Maz to go, but he had refused.

105,000 people are missing at any given time in America. Only a select
few, often children and young women, are profiled in the media. Can you
help get word out about Shawn McDonald?

Contact information for your story:

Anyone with any information is asked to contact:
New Orleans Police Department
Agency Phone:  (504) 658-6050
Investigative Case #:  F-28657-09

[Deborah]

Maz is still missing.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact:
New Orleans Police Department
Agency Phone:  (504) 658-6050
Investigative Case #:  F-28657-09

[Jenn]

NamUs Profile for Maz (listed as Shawn McDonald): https://www.findthemissing.org/cases/5168

[Jenn]

Charley Project Profile for Shawn:  http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/m/mcdonald_shawn.html