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 (MP61653) and 1 other source
Sonya Yvette Bender, a 23-year-old woman from Palatka, Florida, was last seen on March 18, 1986. She left her family home on a bicycle and never returned. Sonya's disappearance has remained a mystery for decades, with no contact or trace of her since that day. At the time of her disappearance, Sonya was described as 5'6" tall, weighing 110 pounds, with black hair. The case has drawn attention due to the sudden and unexplained nature of her vanishing, leaving family and investigators without answers.

Despite extensive efforts, there have been no significant developments in the investigation. Sonya's case remains open, and she is listed in national missing persons databases like NamUs. Authorities and her family continue to hope for new leads that could help solve her case after all these years.

Last Seen: Mar 18, 1986

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (4)

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.

80%Moderate
Jane Doe — Jacksonville, Florida - unidentified case UP807
Jane Doe — Jacksonville, Florida
UP807 • Found Feb 24, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 21–35 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 90%49 mi away, same state
TimingFound 23 months after last seen
Height 52%5'2" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%116 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
78%Possible
Jane Doe — Palm Coast, Florida - unidentified case UP3037
Jane Doe — Palm Coast, Florida
UP3037 • Found Jan 10, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 96%26 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'6"
76%Possible
Jane Doe — Jacksonville, Florida - unidentified case UP376
Jane Doe — Jacksonville, Florida
UP376 • Found Oct 17, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 90%49 mi away, same state
TimingFound 19 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Fort Lauderdale (unincorporated), Florida - unidentified case UP1162 View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 21–35 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 49%259 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%115 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown 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.

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