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Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP55381) and 1 other source
On a summer day in Memphis, Tennessee, the life of a family was irrevocably changed. It was August 22, 2001, and 34-year-old Clifton Earl Jones had just finished visiting his daughter at Baptist East Hospital. After leaving the hospital, the loving father vanished, creating a mystery that has endured for years. At the time of his disappearance, Clifton was described as a Black / African American male, standing at 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 175 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes. When he was last seen, he was wearing a white t-shirt, blue short pants, white socks, and brown shoes. His departure from the hospital that day marked the last time he was ever seen or heard from by his loved ones.

The circumstances surrounding Clifton Earl Jones's disappearance are unsettlingly sparse. He left a place of hope and healing, a hospital where he had just been with his daughter, and stepped into a void. There were no immediate signs of foul play, no notes left behind, and no unusual behavior reported in the time leading up to his visit. He simply walked out of the hospital and was gone. The Memphis Police Department was tasked with the investigation into his sudden disappearance, but the trail quickly went cold. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, the lack of leads and evidence made the search for answers incredibly challenging, leaving his family with a painful and unending uncertainty.

The case of Clifton Earl Jones is a somber reminder of the countless individuals who go missing each year, their stories often fading from public consciousness over time. For the Jones family, however, the passage of years does not diminish the hope of finding answers. With no clear indication of what might have happened to Clifton after he left the hospital, every possibility remains open, from an unfortunate accident to something more sinister. The investigation remains open, a quiet testament to a life interrupted and a family left to grapple with the ambiguity of their loss. The overview of the case is one of a loving father who disappeared without a trace, leaving behind a daughter and a community to wonder what happened on that August day in 2001.

Last Seen: Aug 22, 2001

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

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
UP17552 • Found Feb 22, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%10 mi away, same county
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8"–6'0" vs 5'10"
76%Possible
John Doe — Little Rock, Arkansas
UP7436 • Found Jun 1, 2010
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–50 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 69%130 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Mississippi
UP4683 • Found Sep 4, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 34 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 47%281 mi away
TimingFound 12 months after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%165 lb vs 175 lb
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.