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Earle Russell Missing Person Case

Last seen in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Nov 26, 2015

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Victim Details

Jul 11, 2019

Apr 7, 2020

Earle

Russell

75

65

70 inches

75 inches

150 lbs

185 lbs

Black / African American

Male

Nov 26, 2015

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County

19151

No

57292

Philadelphia Police Department

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County

19143

5510 Pine Street, Pennsylvania

2156863182

Local

Law Enforcement

2016-19-017247

Feb 28, 2016

Philadelphia Police Department

na

Gray or Partially Gray

Hazel

Hazel

Oct 5, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP58656) and 1 other source
In the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a sense of concern grew for the well-being of 65-year-old Earle Benson Russell. The last time his family had any contact with him was on Thanksgiving Day in 2015. As the days turned into weeks with no word, his sister's worry prompted her to report him missing. This initiated an investigation by the Philadelphia Police Department, who, along with his sister, conducted a welfare check at his residence at 6045 Haverford Ave. Unfortunately, their search of the home yielded no signs of Earle.

The investigation into Earle's disappearance continued, with detectives canvassing his neighborhood in the spring of 2016. They spoke with neighbors, hoping to piece together a timeline of his last known movements, but no one recalled seeing him since the end of November 2015. Authorities also checked local hospitals as a precautionary measure, but these inquiries also proved fruitless. A notable detail in Earle's case is that he walked with a limp due to a prior knee replacement, a physical characteristic that authorities hoped might help in identifying him.

The circumstances surrounding Earle Russell's disappearance remain unclear, and his case has left his loved ones with unanswered questions. His sister's report on Thanksgiving of 2015 was the last known contact anyone had with him. The subsequent police investigation, which included a search of his home and interviews with neighbors, unfortunately did not provide any significant leads to his whereabouts. The check of local hospitals also came up with no information. The overview of the case is one of a sudden and unexplained absence, with the lack of communication being entirely out of character for Earle.
Last Seen: Nov 26, 2015

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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  • PA - PA- Earle Benson Russell, 65, Philadelphia, 26 Nov 2015 ...

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    82%Moderate
    John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    UP155373 • Found Feb 9, 2026
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 55–65 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 100%4 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'3"
    Weight 100%141 lb vs 150–185 lb
    Hair 70%Black vs Gray
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    UP82417 • Found Jun 10, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 100%7 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 6 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'0"–6'3" vs 5'10"–6'3"
    Weight 0%275–325 lb vs 150–185 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP71012
    John Doe — Queens, New York
    UP71012 • Found Apr 10, 2020
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 55–70 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 77%93 mi away
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"–6'3"
    Weight 100%166 lb vs 150–185 lb
    Hair 40%Black vs Gray
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Astoria, New York - unidentified case UP65684
    John Doe — Astoria, New York
    UP65684 • Found Jul 26, 2019
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 78%89 mi away
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'3"
    Weight 100%135 lb vs 150–185 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    78%Possible
    John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP16878
    John Doe — New York, New York
    UP16878 • Found Jul 4, 2017
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 80%83 mi away
    TimingFound 19 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"–6'3"
    Weight 100%200 lb vs 150–185 lb
    Hair 40%Black vs Gray
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Kew Gardens, New York - unidentified case UP76663
    John Doe — Kew Gardens, New York
    UP76663 • Found Dec 14, 2020
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 78%90 mi away
    TimingFound 5 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'3"
    Weight 78%115 lb vs 150–185 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    77%Possible
    John Doe — New York - unidentified case UP16188
    John Doe — New York
    UP16188 • Found Aug 16, 2016
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 68%Est. 50–60 vs 65
    Race 100%Black
    Location 79%86 mi away
    TimingFound 9 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"–6'3"
    Weight 100%150 lb vs 150–185 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Newark, New Jersey - unidentified case UP156066
    John Doe — Newark, New Jersey
    UP156066 • Found Nov 23, 2025
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 81%77 mi away
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'1" vs 5'10"–6'3"
    Weight 100%183 lb vs 150–185 lb
    Hair 40%Black vs Gray
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP91564
    John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
    UP91564 • Found May 6, 2022
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 79%85 mi away
    TimingFound 6 years after last seen
    Height 52%5'6" vs 5'10"–6'3"
    Weight 100%139 lb vs 150–185 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP86788
    John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
    UP86788 • Found Nov 22, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 60–75 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 79%86 mi away
    TimingFound 6 years after last seen
    Height 52%5'6" vs 5'10"–6'3"
    Weight 100%143 lb vs 150–185 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (2)

    Hey sleuths, did anyone else catch the detail about Earle Russell's knee replacement? I'm thinking... ...Read More
    10/05/2023
    Does anyone remember Earle Russell from Philly? Something's been bugging me about this... ...Read More
    06/04/2023

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