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Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP37915) and 9 other sources
In the late winter of 2017, a sense of unease settled over a family in Windham, Connecticut, when 51-year-old David Richard Manley did not return home. On March 3, he had left his family's residence on Jordan Road with a plan to meet a friend in the nearby town of Montville. His family saw him leave, expecting it to be a normal day, but this would be the last time they would have contact with him. Concern grew when he failed to arrive at his friend's location and remained out of touch. Several days later, with no word of his whereabouts, his family officially reported him missing to the authorities on March 7, 2017.

The investigation into David's disappearance revealed his last known location was not in Windham or Montville, but in the city of New London. It was learned that on the afternoon of March 3, a taxi driver had picked him up and dropped him off near the intersection of Water and South Water Street around 2:40 p.m. The driver reported seeing David walking in the direction of South Water Street, a waterfront area. He was never seen or heard from again after this moment. The trip to meet his friend was inexplicably interrupted by this stop in New London, leaving a perplexing gap in his timeline and a trail that went cold almost as soon as it began.

At the time he went missing, David Manley was described as a white male, standing 6'1' and weighing between 130 and 140 pounds. He had brown hair, which was pulled back, and hazel eyes. He also had an unshaven face. A distinct characteristic was that David walked with a limp and used a cane for assistance. His last known attire consisted of a black coat, blue jeans, and slip-on tennis shoes. The case remains a troubling mystery, centered on the puzzling question of why David was dropped off in New London instead of proceeding to his original destination in Montville. His disappearance after a seemingly routine taxi ride has left his loved ones searching for answers for years, a narrative of a man who intended to visit a friend but instead vanished near the water's edge, leaving a community with lingering questions and a family with enduring heartache.

Last Seen: Mar 3, 2017

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

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 — Waterbury, Connecticut
UP94477 • Found Aug 13, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 89%50 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7"–6'1" vs 6'1"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Waterbury, Connecticut
UP103362 • Found Mar 31, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 95%Est. 58–72 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 90%48 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 75%5'10"–6'5" vs 6'1"
75%Possible
John Doe — Hollis, New York - unidentified case UP17867
John Doe — Hollis, New York
UP17867 • Found Apr 3, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 76%97 mi away
TimingFound 13 months after last seen
Height 100%6'2" vs 6'1"
Weight 0%245 lb vs 130–140 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel

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.