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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 (MP51109) and 2 other sources
In the early summer of 2004, a sense of unease settled over a family in Benton Charter Township, Michigan. Tommie Jerrold Saffell, a 60-year-old Caucasian male, had vanished. He was last seen by his loved ones on June 20, 2004, a day that would become the starting point of a long and painful period of uncertainty. At the time of his disappearance, Tommie was described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing around 150 pounds. He had graying hair and blue eyes. The last time anyone saw him, he was dressed casually in blue jeans, a button-up shirt, and tennis shoes. His family had no indication that he was planning to leave or that anything was amiss, making his sudden absence all the more baffling and distressing.

As days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, the lack of any communication from Tommie deepened the family's fears. The Benton Charter Township Police Department was notified, and an official missing persons report was filed on March 20, 2007, under the case number 07-276. Investigators were faced with a case where the trail had grown cold. There were few, if any, leads to follow. Tommie had a scar on his right foot and some unknown tattoos, details that were circulated in the hope that they might lead to his identification. Despite these distinguishing marks, information about his possible whereabouts remained elusive. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance were starkly and distressingly simple: he was last seen by his family, and then he was gone.

The years have stretched on, and the questions surrounding Tommie Saffell's disappearance remain unanswered. The lack of any substantial evidence or new leads has left his case open and unresolved. For his family and the community, his absence represents a void, a story without an ending. The investigation, while officially still open, has been hampered by the passage of time. The case serves as a somber reminder of the many individuals who go missing each year, leaving behind loved ones to grapple with the ambiguity of their fate. The overview of this case is one of a sudden and unexplained disappearance, with very few details to aid in the search, leaving a family to wonder what happened to Tommie on that summer day in 2004.

Last Seen: Jun 20, 2004

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (7)

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.

81%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP16642
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP16642 • Found Jan 14, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–69 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%64 mi away
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
Weight 89%127 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
81%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP78041
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP78041 • Found Oct 8, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–65 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%64 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%142 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — Waukegan, Illinois - unidentified case UP163526
John Doe — Waukegan, Illinois
UP163526 • Found Apr 8, 2026
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 82%75 mi away
TimingFound 22 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%151 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Summit, Illinois - unidentified case UP8588
John Doe — Summit, Illinois
UP8588 • Found Jan 3, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–65 vs 60
Race 100%White
Location 82%75 mi away
TimingFound 6 months after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 5'6"
Weight 73%185 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
78%Possible
John Doe — Hamtramck, Michigan - unidentified case UP11696
John Doe — Hamtramck, Michigan
UP11696 • Found Jan 30, 2009
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 60%173 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%147 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
76%Possible
John Doe — Zion, Illinois
UP142067 • Found Apr 7, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 82%76 mi away
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1"–5'5" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%160–170 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
75%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP14526 • Found Jul 19, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%64 mi away
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'6"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 70%Brown vs Gray

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.