Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP43165) and 3 other sources
On July 18, 2017, the life of Elias Jean Pery Jr., a 31-year-old man from the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, area, took an uncertain turn. That day, he placed a telephone call to his mother with news of a significant life change; he was planning to move to Hoboken, New Jersey, to live with friends and find a job in New York City. This conversation was the last contact anyone is known to have had with him. Shortly after, Elias, who also went by Eli, seemed to disconnect from his previous life entirely. His cell phone service was cut off, his email accounts were allowed to lapse, and he did not file a change of address with the post office. Since that final phone call, an unsettling silence has fallen, as he has not reached out to any family members or friends.

Elias is a Caucasian male with brown hair, which he possibly kept shaved, and brown eyes. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as being between 5'4' and 6'2' tall and weighing between 160 and 170 pounds. A few physical characteristics make him distinctive: a broken nose from a childhood injury at age nine that was never surgically repaired, a diagnosis of mild scoliosis as a teen, and a bone that slightly protrudes in the middle of his chest. When he was last in contact, it is believed he was wearing a plaid shirt, khakis, sneakers, and a navy blue Villanova ball cap. He did not own a car nor did he have a driver's license, and he was known to walk everywhere. He had taken the train to New York City in the weeks prior to his disappearance but had returned.

The circumstances surrounding Elias's case are deeply troubling for those who know him. His complete and abrupt severing of all communication is out of character. The Lower Merion Township Police Department launched an investigation on August 10, 2017, but the trail has remained cold. The case is an ongoing search for a man who vanished after announcing plans for a new beginning. The lack of any digital footprint or personal contact in the years since has left his family in a state of painful uncertainty. The overview of the case reflects a sudden departure with no subsequent traces, leaving a void of information and a family waiting for answers.

Last Seen: Jul 18, 2017

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.

84%Moderate
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP70353 • Found May 7, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 90%Est. 35–50 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%1 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'4"–6'2"
Weight 100%166 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP55994 • Found Sep 22, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 31
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 2 months after last seen
Height 100%5'6"–5'8" vs 5'4"–6'2"
Weight 100%160–180 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP99882 • Found Jan 28, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'4"–6'2"
Weight 75%123 lb vs 160–170 lb
82%Moderate
John Doe — Staten Island, New York - unidentified case UP57351
John Doe — Staten Island, New York
UP57351 • Found May 3, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 84%69 mi away
TimingFound 22 months after last seen
Height 100%5'0"–5'4" vs 5'4"–6'2"
Weight 84%110–130 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - unidentified case UP123910
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP123910 • Found Jun 4, 2024
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 29–39 vs 31 when missing
Race 60%Hispanic
Location 100%4 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'4"–6'2"
Weight 100%162 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Manhattan, New York - unidentified case UP114703
John Doe — Manhattan, New York
UP114703 • Found Nov 10, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 79%86 mi away
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'4"–6'2"
Weight 98%142 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP55648
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP55648 • Found Jan 28, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 31 when missing
Race 60%Hispanic
Location 80%82 mi away
TimingFound 18 months after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'4"–6'2"
Weight 100%147 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Atlantic City, New Jersey - unidentified case UP102185
John Doe — Atlantic City, New Jersey
UP102185 • Found Jan 7, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 19–39 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 87%57 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'4"–6'2"
Weight 100%150–180 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Blue vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP95925 • Found Sep 16, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 21–40 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6"–5'8" vs 5'4"–6'2"
Hair 50%Blond vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP81157
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP81157 • Found May 26, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 78%90 mi away
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'4"–6'2"
Weight 100%168 lb vs 160–170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown

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.