Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 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 (MP58399) and 5 other sources
Joseph Leon Johnson, a 78-year-old Army veteran, was last seen on January 1, 2008, in Miami, Florida. Johnson had been living in the Northside area of Miami-Dade County, where he was cared for by his friend William Merritt due to his declining health. Both men disappeared following a fire that destroyed their last known residence in 2009. While Merritt has not been officially listed as a missing person, neither man has been heard from since.

Johnson, who frequently visited the North Miami Beach area, was originally from New Jersey and had also spent time living in Alabama. Standing between 6'0" and 6'2" with gray hair and green eyes, Johnson also wore prescription eyeglasses. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain mysterious, and there have been no significant developments in his case since.

The investigation remains active, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Miami-Dade Police Department.

Last Seen: Jan 1, 2008

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 — Oakland Park, Florida - unidentified case UP7344
John Doe — Oakland Park, Florida
UP7344 • Found Mar 10, 2009
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 60%Est. 45–80 vs 78 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%23 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 68%6'5" vs 6'0"–6'2"
Weight 100%165 lb vs 180–200 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray

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.