Nicholas Harvey Shinn is a son, brother, nephew, and friend who vanished without a trace.

Nicholas, better known as Nick, was born on February 14, 1985 to parents Anita and John Nelson. He grew up all over Jackson County, WV and attended Ravenswood High School in Ravenswood, WV. At the time of his disappearance, Nick was staying at his brother and sister-in-law’s apartment in the Wedgewood Apartment complex in Ripley, WV.

Nick vanished from Ripley, WV in 2003.

Nick was last seen at the Wedgewood Apartments in Ripley, WV on June 15, 2003. He did not take any of his belongings with him, and he has not been seen or heard from since. Rumors that circulated after his disappearance focused on the severe flooding in the area at the time. Due to the flooding, Mill Creek in Ripley, WV was severely flooded, causing high, fast-moving water levels. Rumors spread that he may have fallen or have been pushed in, though none of these rumors have been proven and Nick remains missing under suspicious circumstances.

Where the case stands today.

Today, Nick has remained missing for more than 19 years without any movement in the investigation since 2003. There’s hardly been any news reporting on his case or updates from law enforcement since his disappearance. His case remains unsolved.

At the time of his disappearance in 2003, Nick was described as an 18 year old caucasian man with brown hair and blue eyes. He was 5’7” tall and weighed approximately 135 lbs. Nicholas has his eyebrow pierced. He was last seen wearing baggy blue jeans and a baseball cap. If you have any information regarding Nicholas' disappearance or his whereabouts, please contact the Ripley Police Department at (304) 372-4711.