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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 (MP56232) and 6 other sources
Timothy Gerard McKernan, a 16-year-old from Petaluma, California, disappeared on April 23, 1973. That morning, he left his home on Weaverly Drive at 10:00 a.m., riding his bike to a supermarket on Washington Street to pay a utility bill for his mother. Timothy successfully completed his errand, but he never returned home. A classmate reported seeing him near the library later that day, and he seemed to be acting normally at the time. However, by 1:00 p.m., his bicycle was found unlocked and abandoned outside the Petaluma Public Library, a behavior his family found unusual, as he would never leave his bike unsecured.

At the time of his disappearance, Timothy was a sophomore at St. Vincent's High School. His family could not identify any reason for him to run away, although law enforcement considered both the possibility of foul play and suicide, suggesting he "may have been despondent." Despite extensive searches and investigations, Timothy has never been found, and his case remains unsolved.

Timothy was described as being 5'9" to 5'10", weighing around 130 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He had a scar on his lip and had fractured his right arm twice in the past.

Last Seen: Apr 23, 1973

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.

82%Moderate
John Doe — Berkeley, California - unidentified case UP53302
John Doe — Berkeley, California
UP53302 • Found Mar 19, 1985
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%32 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%137 lb vs 130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5872 • Found Oct 16, 1981
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%34 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 85%153 lb vs 130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5840 • Found Mar 2, 1974
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 18–35 vs 16
Race 100%White
Location 94%34 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 months after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 82%155 lb vs 130 lb
Hair 50%Blond vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Sacramento, California
UP2404 • Found May 12, 1982
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 89%49 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 97%145 lb vs 130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5866 • Found May 30, 1980
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%34 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%140 lb vs 130 lb
79%Possible
John Doe — Unincorporated, California
UP10662 • Found Jun 7, 1978
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 87%57 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 74%160 lb vs 130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Sacramento, California
UP2414 • Found Feb 6, 1977
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%66 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%6'0" vs 5'10"
Weight 65%165 lb vs 130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — California - unidentified case UP17689
John Doe — California
UP17689 • Found May 10, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 54%170 lb vs 130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
78%Possible
John Doe — Guerneville, California
UP79380 • Found Jul 18, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%27 mi away, same county
TimingFound 22 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5"–5'9" vs 5'10"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Sausalito, California
UP17718 • Found Sep 9, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 86%Est. 35–45 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%27 mi away, same state
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 74%160 lb vs 130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 70%Gray vs Blue

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.