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298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP57545) and 1 other source
In the summer of 2014, a season of warmth and activity in Memphis, Tennessee, the life of a local family was irrevocably changed. On July 13th, 16-year-old Barry McKnight, a young Black male with his future ahead of him, disappeared from his home. Standing at five feet seven inches and weighing around 120 pounds, the teenager with black hair and brown eyes was a familiar presence in his community. The day he vanished began like any other, but ended in a mystery that would stretch on for years, leaving his loved ones in a state of perpetual uncertainty. His disappearance was sudden and offered no immediate clues as to his destination or intentions.

The circumstances surrounding Barry's disappearance are distressingly vague, a fact that has only deepened the anguish for those who know and care for him. The official account simply states that he left his home and was not seen again. There were no known arguments, no signs of foul play at his residence, and no communications to suggest he was in distress or had a plan to leave. This lack of information has been a significant barrier for investigators and has left his family with a painful void of unanswered questions. Without knowing what he was wearing or if he took any personal belongings, the trail went cold almost as soon as it began, creating a difficult starting point for any search effort.

In the years since Barry McKnight was last seen, his case has become one of the many lingering unsolved disappearances in Memphis. The Memphis Police Department opened an investigation, but the scarcity of leads has made progress challenging. His case is a somber reminder of the silent crisis of missing persons that affects communities across the nation, where families are left waiting for answers, often for years on end. The overview of the case remains stark in its simplicity: a teenage boy walked away from his home one day and has not been heard from since, leaving a family to hope and a community to wonder about the fate of one of its own.

Last Seen: Jul 13, 2014

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

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.

76%Possible
John Doe — Memphis, Tennessee - unidentified case UP135135
John Doe — Memphis, Tennessee
UP135135 • Found Nov 27, 2024
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 11–21 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%6 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Hair 100%Black vs Black

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.

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