---

Ben and sister Kelly in Paris, 2005

Chronology since Day 1 (March 2, 2016) is below.

https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/33696

Ben Missing Flyer.  More photos of Ben are below.

On March 2, 2016, my son Ben Archer disappeared.  Many people love Ben, and we all miss him.  So, over the years, I have tried to keep everyone up to date on the news of the case, whenever there is news.

Today I realized that many people need fast information and a way to find it quickly.  So this new page will be where I keep updates from now on about our Benjamin instead of having them scattered on different blogs and different pages.

This is also a place where I will share the links to anything I have written or will write, when grief and fear and hope need an outlet. If you love someone who is missing, you will understand this need to express these huge emotions.  If you ever want to talk, contact me at any time.

Please share Ben’s Missing Person Case Link *

*NEW URL

My mantra. "Breathe in hope. Breathe out fear."  He's not gone. He's just not here.

These four photos below were taken just days before he disappeared at the last place we saw Ben, Dupont State Park in Delaware City, c.Noon, March 2, 2016.

CHRONOLOGY

2016

Note:  Several of these earlier links lead to stories which were
deleted by me at the request of my family.  The reason was, they
believed Ben might have continued to read this blog since he was
one of our contributing photographers.  He may have meant to come
home but, seeing all the police activity, confusion and worry, he 
might be too embarrassed to do so.  So I took down the 1st couple
of weeks.  I keep our family updated by email.  But after days
turned into weeks, we as a family decided to make the updates 
public again.  Those with an *asterisk included the old NAMus.gov
link which has been changed and updated above.  It is:   
https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/33696

MARCH
05:  Gems Photographer (My Son) In Danger*
05:  My Son Is Missing - Update March 5th*
06:  Missing Son - Gems Photographer - Update March 6*
07:  Day 5 - Short Version:  No News*
10:  Day 8 - Keep Going Mom*
11:  Day 9 - Missing Son/Gems Photographer/No News*
12:  Day 10 - Ben, Day 10 - Gratitudes*
13:  Ben's Vision (Day 11, 13 Gratitudes*
14:  Day 12:  No News*
15:  Day 13:  15 Gratitudes*
16:  Missing Benjamin 14 | 16 (Congressman John Carney)
17:  Missing Benjamin:  Day 15
18:  Missing Benjamin:  Day 16
18:  /gems*
17:  Easter Morning, Mary's Song (2016)

APRIL
03:  Living Arrows (One Month, One Day)
19:  "The earth is like a child..." (Day 49)
20:  "Plant your own garden..." (Day 51)
21:  "It's not your job..." (Day 51)
22:  "Live in such a way..." (Day 52)
25:  "When food is prepared..." (Day 55)
26:  "A friend is someone who knows..." (Day 56)
27:  "Do you know what people really want..." (Day 57)
28:  "You have it easily in your power..." (Day 58/"Dear Ben")
29:  "Today I choose life..." (Day 59/"Dear Ben")

MAY
01:  "Our main business is not..." (Two Months/"Dear Ben")
04:  "You've probably noticed..." (Dear Ben)
06:  "I am not afraid of storms..." (Dear Ben)
09:  "Forgiveness doesn't excuse..." (Dear Ben)
10:  "Be realistic. Expect a miracle." (Dear Ben)
12:  "The journey of a thousand miles..." (All My Children)
13:  "Not to spoil the ending..." (Dear Kelly)
20:  "Friday's Child"(Ben spotted a month ago...")
24:  "Talent without discipline..." 
25:  "Wouldn't this old world be better..." (Dear Ben)
26:  "The best way to have a good idea..." (Dear Ben)
28:  Friday's Child 2: "Summer Again" (Dear Ben)
31:  "Some people..." (Dear Ben)

JUNE
01:  "He who cannot howl..." Out of Flippin' Nowhwere (Fear)
02:  "I have two kinds of problems..." (Dear Ben)
03:  Friday's Child 3: "The beginning of the end..." (Dear Ben)
06:  "...all that is left is original love." (Dear Ben)
07:  qamuSHa’!
13:  Explore the Nuances ("Dear Beautiful Ones...")
22:  "You can trust us to stick to you..."
24:  "It is with great sadness and deep regret..."
JULY
08:  Friday's Child:  Work Like a Beaver and Walk Like a Cat
09:  Hymn to Life

AUGUST
SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER
11:  Two Gifts (Dear Mama)
19:  Beautiful Pain

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

 

2017

JANUARY
01:  under1000skies - A History


15:  For Ben (Kelly's Video to Ben)

FEBRUARY
21: Ben's 33rd birthday, the first without him.

MARCH
APRIL

MAY
18: Miss This Guy (Kelly's vid of Uncle Ben and Evie from 2014)

2017

(continued)

MAY
27:  Joyful One (on Service Space) 

JUNE
JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER

2018

JANUARY

FEBRUARY
2: Hollowing
21: Ben's 34th birthday, the second without him.
MARCH
3: Two Years

APRIL
MAY
10: I Can Never Repay You
13: Sunlit Dreams
16: A Gathering of the Tribe

JUNE
3: Pablo and Benjamin
18: Reverence: Food ☼ Fire ☼ Fear

JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
NOVEMBER
6: 1000 Days

DECEMBER
02:  Strong Enough
13:  My Benny (Video)
31: Thank You, Gentle Stranger

December 13, 2018

December 13, 2018:  I created this ^ video yesterday to help get the word out about Ben. It is set to two songs we loved, and all sang together a lot, “Wheel in the Sky” and “Lights” by Journey. I used photos from his life, from age -3 months when I was pregnant with him in Kenosha, WI, to the last photo of him I took and the last place he was seen.  It includes many photos he shared with me for under1000skies.  Another song I play often when I think of him that helps is “Don’t Stop Believing.” I won’t.  If you feel inspired to do so, please share the link to this page anywhere you like.

I appreciate every single person who has shared Ben’s poster, sent prayers and good thoughts, and kind notes of encouragement over the years. 

I’ll never be able to repay you, but I promise to continue to pay your kindness forward.

With so much gratitude,

♥. Niki Flow

2019

JANUARY
13:  Keening
25:  Gems 5.19

FEBRUARY
04:  Gems 5.20 (The Buttons for Benjamin announcement post)
04:  Gems 5.20
05:  Weeks 5-11 (Take 3)
21:  Gems 5.33 (Ben's 35th birthday, 3rd without him)
21:  Day 01, The Wish (B4B Kickoff KindSpring.org 21-Day Challenge) 
22:  Day 02, The Day
23:  Day 03, The List
24:  Day 04, The Name
25:  Day 05, The Meaning
26:  Buttons for Benjamin - Week 1
26:  Day 06, The Alphabet
27:  Day 07, The Date
28:  Day 08, The Rock

MARCH
01:  Day 09, The Note
02:  Day 10, The Letter
03:  Day 11, The Card
04:  Day 12, The Marathon
05:  Buttons for Benjamin - Week 2
05:  Day 13, The Loan
06:  Day 14, The Memoriam
07:  Day 15, The Mirror
08:  Day 16, The Share
09:  Day 17, The Buddy
10:  Day 18, The Postcard
11:  Day 19, The Kiss
12:  Day 20, The Text
12:  Buttons for Benjamin - Week 3
13:  Day 21, The Song
19:  Buttons for Benjamin - Week 4
26:  Buttons for Benjamin - Week 5

APRIL
02:  Buttons for Benjamin - Week 6
09:  Buttons for Benjamin - Week 7
18:  Buttons for Benjamin - Week 8
19:  Easter Morning, Mary's Song (4)

MAY
28:  I Will Reignite

JUNE
04:  Gems 5.75
09:  Captured from History
23:  (New page) Free Quote Cards
26:  Dear Rowdy
28:  Good News/Bad News

JULY
08:  Ash
19:  Flooded

AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
15:  New Cards

NOVEMBER
1:  Watercolor Painting

DECEMBER
7:  Live Now

Buttons for Benjamin will continue until Ben comes home, but I won’t be keeping records.  This is a promise to do at least one act of kindness each day and, where appropriate, leave a Button (I had dozens made) to get the word out about my missing son. If you would like some buttons, let me know.

2020

JANUARY
13:  Vital

FEBRUARY
21:  Ben's 36th birthday, the fourth without him.

MARCH
2:  Four Years

APRIL

MAY
6:  Haiku for You, Mariana

JUNE
JULY
AUGUST

SEPTEMBER
24:  Joy

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER
05:  I Will Never Stop Looking. m

December
01:  Day 1
03:  Wise Guy

2021

JANUARY

FEBRUARY
21:  Ben's 37th birthday, the sixth without him.

MARCH
2:  Five Years.

APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
AUGUST

SEPTEMBER
21:  Don't Ask

OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER

 

2022

JANUARY

FEBRUARY
21:  Ben's 37th birthday, the fifth without him. 
About My Son 

2022

(continued)

MARCH 
2:  Six Years 
24: Butterfly Moments 

APRIL 
8: Unflinchingly 
28: YouTube channel art (see below)

2022

(continued)

MAY 
JUNE 

JULY 
23:  Every Word
25:  Transformation

AUGUST 
SEPTEMBER 
OCTOBER 
NOVEMBER 
DECEMBER

 

2023

JANUARY
FEBRUARY

MARCH
2: Seven Years

APRIL
MAY

JUNE
28:  ChatGPT

JULY
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER

NOVEMBER
3:  17th of Last Seed

DECEMBER

2024

JANUARY

FEBRUARY
21:  40

MARCH
APRIL
MAY

JUNE
5: Stronger

JULY
AUGUST

SEPTEMBER
4: Courage

OCTOBER
NOVEMBER

DECEMBER
11: For My Children, A Poetry Collection (Substack)

40

2025

JANUARY

FEBRUARY
9:  Fading

MARCH
6:  First State Unsolved: Benjamin Archer (Video)

2025

(continued)

APRIL
29: Vision 2025

MAY
JUNE
JULY

AUGUST
29: Live Now, A Poem of Grief and Hope (Substack)

SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
NOVEMBER
DECEMBER

---

2026

JANUARY
FEBRUARY
MARCH
APRIL
MAY

JUNE
26: Abecedarian: A Poem for Benjamin (Substack)

JULY
4: I Will Never Stop Searching. m  (Substack)

Ben’s Photographs

Ben was one of our top contributing photographers for under1000skies. If you type “Ben Archer” into the search box here (or click that link), you’ll see all the photos he shared during his trip around the United States in 2015.  Ben’s companion during his 2015 trip, Contessa (Tessa) Brown, was another generous and gifted photographer, and her photos from that time coincide with Ben’s. The beautiful photo on this page’s banner was taken by Tessa.

 

Before he disappeared:  Homeless or Nomadic?

Ben was homeless by choice, or “nomadic,” as he preferred to call it, when he traveled in 2015.  During his travels, he had money, a car, and friends he traveled with.

Where Is My Son?

When Ben left on that cold morning, March 2, 2016, he had nothing on him but the clothes he wore (grey yoga pants and a striped thin cotton polo), and he was alone.  No wallet, no shoes, no jacket.  Everything is still in his room here.  He went to the park, and the last time his younger brother and my husband saw him, Ben was there, meditating by the river. He promised to be home in an hour.

The Delaware State Police and Delaware City Police did a search the morning after he disappeared, immediately after I filed the Missing Person Report.  They used dogs, men, thermal scans, and even helicopters to search the river for him.  They found nothing.  It was as if he got sucked off the face of the earth.  There have been possible sightings since then, but only in the early days, and none were ever confirmed.

Thank you for your interest.  I’m grateful to everyone who has shared Ben’s poster and for their prayers and kind support.  Please pass Ben’s Missing Person Case Link (<– NEW URL) to everyone you know.  My mother’s heart will never let me do anything but hope, and so I believe he is well and living a new adventure.  So if you do see him, please tell him to call his mom.

---

“If I Could Be Where You Are”

Where are you this moment?
Only in my dreams
You’re missing, but you’re always
A heartbeat from me
I’m lost now without you
I don’t know where you are
I keep watching, I keep hoping
But time keeps us apart

Is there a way I can find you
Is there a sign I should know
Is there a road I could follow
To bring you back home?

Winter lies before me
Now you’re so far away
In the darkness of my dreaming
The light of you will stay

If I could be close beside you
If I could be where you are
If I could reach out and touch you
And bring you back home

Is there a way I can find you
Is there a sign I should know
Is there a road I could follow
To bring you back home
To me

Enya