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Thomas Melendez Missing Person Case

Last seen in Bakersfield, California on Apr 16, 1961

Victim Details

Jun 9, 2018

Oct 31, 2023

Thomas

Melendez

113

48

68 inches

160 lbs

170 lbs

Hispanic / Latino

Male

Apr 16, 1961

Bakersfield

California

Kern County

38703

Sacramento County Sheriff's Office

Sacramento

California

Sacramento County

95841

Zaheem Buksh

Detective, Missing Persons

4500 Orange Grove Avenue, California

9168745115

County

Law Enforcement

sacsheriff.com

18-199623

Sacramento County Sheriff's Office

10727

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 10, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP50524) and 3 other sources
Thomas Melendez, also known as Tomas Casares Melendez, was last seen on April 16, 1961, in Bakersfield, California, at the age of 48. He is described as a Hispanic male, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighing between 160 and 170 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

The circumstances of his disappearance are largely unknown, and he has never been heard from since that day. It is speculated that he may have traveled to Mexico, but no concrete evidence has surfaced to support this theory. Despite the passage of time, details regarding his case remain limited, and the investigation into his disappearance continues to be active.

Authorities, including the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office, are urging anyone with information about Thomas Melendez's case to come forward. His NamUs case number is MP50524, and he remains classified as missing.
Last Seen: Apr 16, 1961

Links to Additional Sources (3)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP50524 | NamUs
  • 6257DMCA - Thomas Casares Melendez - Doe Network
  • Registered sex offenders in Bakersfield, California - City-Data.com

    • 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.

    79%Possible
    John Doe — California
    UP61378 • Found Jul 3, 1981
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 48 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 99%12 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 20 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6"–5'9" vs 5'8"
    Weight 100%150–160 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Bakersfield, California
    UP61304 • Found Nov 30, 2018
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 48 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 58 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9"–5'11" vs 5'8"
    Weight 100%140–150 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Shafter, California
    UP61238 • Found Mar 11, 2006
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 48 when missing
    Race 60%White
    Location 98%17 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 45 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5"–5'7" vs 5'8"
    Weight 100%180–210 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP10366
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP10366 • Found Mar 1, 2012
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 48 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 79%86 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 51 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
    Weight 84%200 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP60986
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP60986 • Found Sep 22, 2019
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 48 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 75%102 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 58 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5"–5'9" vs 5'8"
    Weight 100%154 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Arvin, California
    UP60621 • Found Oct 4, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 48 when missing
    Race 60%White
    Location 98%16 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 30 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'4"–5'7" vs 5'8"
    Weight 84%120–130 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — California - unidentified case UP3092
    John Doe — California
    UP3092 • Found Feb 27, 2005
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 53–65 vs 48 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 75%101 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 44 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"
    Weight 100%166 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP3485
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP3485 • Found Dec 5, 1996
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 49–59 vs 48 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 75%102 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 36 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
    Weight 100%160 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP10665 • Found Feb 26, 1994
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 48 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 75%98 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 33 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'4"–5'8" vs 5'8"
    Weight 96%140 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP17827
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP17827 • Found Apr 12, 2018
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 48 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 75%101 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 57 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5"–5'9" vs 5'8"
    Weight 100%175–190 lb vs 160–170 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown 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.

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    Forum Posts (3)

    Does anyone else find it intriguing that Thomas Melendez might have traveled to Mexico after his... ...Read More
    11/08/2024
    I was doing some research on the disappearance of Thomas Melendez, and I came across a curious... ...Read More
    11/04/2024
    Hey everyone, I've been digging through some old missing persons cases and came across the one about... ...Read More
    10/28/2023

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