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Jess Gilbert Missing Person Case

Last seen in St Petersburg, Florida on Jan 26, 1985

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Victim Details

Jul 26, 2019

Jan 12, 2024

Jess

Gilbert

74

33

69 inches

71 inches

175 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Jan 26, 1985

St Petersburg

Florida

Pinellas County

No

57543

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

Largo

Florida

Pinellas County

33778

Christopher Lyons

Deputy

10750 Ulmerton Rd, Florida

County

Law Enforcement

SPB85-2598

Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office

na

Black

Unknown

Unknown

Oct 12, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP59023) and 3 other sources
Jess Willard Gilbert, 33 years old at the time, went missing on January 26, 1985, from St. Pete Beach, Florida. On that day, Jess and his companion, Vernon Nash, set out on a 24-foot fishing vessel with plans to go shark fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. The men were supposed to return by January 29, but neither they nor their boat were ever seen again. Extensive searches were conducted, but no trace of the vessel or the two men was found, leading authorities to believe that they were lost at sea.

Jess was described as standing 5'10" tall and weighing about 175 pounds, with black hair and a scar on his forehead. Despite investigations and efforts by law enforcement, the case remains unsolved. Jess and Vernon are both presumed to have perished during their fishing expedition, but the exact circumstances surrounding their disappearance remain unknown.
Last Seen: Jan 26, 1985

Links to Additional Sources (3)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP59023
  • Jess Willard Gilbert - The Charley Project
  • Missing Persons - - Pinellas County Sheriff's Office

    • 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.

    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Tampa, Florida - unidentified case UP195
    John Doe — Tampa, Florida
    UP195 • Found May 29, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 33 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 96%23 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'0" vs 5'9"–5'11"
    Weight 47%117 lb vs 175 lb
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Tampa, Florida - unidentified case UP78
    John Doe — Tampa, Florida
    UP78 • Found May 21, 2006
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–35 vs 33 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%12 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 21 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'7" vs 5'9"–5'11"
    Weight 100%172 lb vs 175 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Black
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Ft Myers, Florida
    UP1165 • Found Mar 5, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 21–35 vs 33 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 78%91 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 6 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"–5'11"
    Weight 74%135 lb vs 175 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Tampa, Florida - unidentified case UP179
    John Doe — Tampa, Florida
    UP179 • Found Jun 18, 2000
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 33 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 98%16 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 15 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'7" vs 5'9"–5'11"
    Weight 68%130 lb vs 175 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Lecanto, Florida - unidentified case UP2883
    John Doe — Lecanto, Florida
    UP2883 • Found Jun 14, 1985
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 33
    Race 100%White
    Location 82%75 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 5 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'6"–5'9" vs 5'9"–5'11"
    Weight 73%134 lb vs 175 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Wesley Chapel, Florida - unidentified case UP2308
    John Doe — Wesley Chapel, Florida
    UP2308 • Found Jul 16, 1990
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 40–65 vs 33 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%33 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 5 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"–5'11"
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Kissimmee, Florida - unidentified case UP581
    John Doe — Kissimmee, Florida
    UP581 • Found Sep 22, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 84%Est. 40–60 vs 33 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 80%83 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 5 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'0" vs 5'9"–5'11"
    Weight 100%165 lb vs 175 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Florida - unidentified case UP1229
    John Doe — Florida
    UP1229 • Found Apr 30, 1986
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 21–35 vs 33 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 67%139 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 15 months after last seen
    Height 84%6'1" vs 5'9"–5'11"
    Weight 100%170 lb vs 175 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Tampa, Florida - unidentified case UP8112
    John Doe — Tampa, Florida
    UP8112 • Found Nov 8, 2010
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 33 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 98%17 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 26 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'7" vs 5'9"–5'11"
    Hair 70%Gray vs Black
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Florida - unidentified case UP2317
    John Doe — Florida
    UP2317 • Found Jun 23, 1992
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 36–45 vs 33 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 71%122 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"–5'11"
    Weight 96%154 lb vs 175 lb

    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 (1)

    Jess Willard Gilbert was 33 when he disappeared from St. Pete Beach, Florida, on January 26, 1985.... ...Read More
    05/24/2024

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