Crime Solvers Central
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 (MP37280) and 7 other sources
Melinda Marie McCollom, 25, was last seen on February 12, 1989, near her residence in the Old Town neighborhood of Seal Beach, California. She lived with her boyfriend, Harvey Anthony Caron, at the time of her disappearance. Prior to going missing, McCollom had received $20,000 from a real estate deal, and both she and the money vanished without a trace. Her family later suspected that checks related to the transaction had her forged signature.

Caron, a convicted murderer, claimed that McCollom died of an accidental drug overdose, after which he disposed of her body in a trash bin in Long Beach. However, her body has never been found, and authorities suspect foul play. Caron is also a person of interest in the disappearance of another individual, Dennis Kaye Woods, who went missing in 1988 under similarly suspicious circumstances. Caron’s history of violent behavior, including a no-contest plea in the murder of another woman, Estella Dian Vaughan, has only deepened suspicions regarding McCollom's case.

Despite investigations, neither McCollom's remains nor any definitive answers have surfaced, leaving her case unsolved. Her disappearance is classified as endangered missing, and her family continues to search for closure.

Last Seen: Feb 12, 1989

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
Jane Doe — California
UP10281 • Found Mar 22, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25 vs 25
Race 100%White
Location 97%23 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 weeks after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"
Weight 91%94 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — Huntington Park, California
UP3465 • Found Apr 22, 1997
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Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 28–47 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%18 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0"–5'4" vs 5'5"
Weight 100%107–115 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 50%Red vs Blond
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP3838
Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP3838 • Found Sep 11, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 15–25 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%23 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0"–5'5" vs 5'5"
Weight 0%170 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
Jane Doe — Garden Grove, California - unidentified case UP7673
Jane Doe — Garden Grove, California
UP7673 • Found Oct 4, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same county
TimingFound 20 months after last seen
Height 84%5'3" vs 5'5"
Weight 0%179 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
Jane Doe — Corona Del Mar, California - unidentified case UP7669
Jane Doe — Corona Del Mar, California
UP7669 • Found May 14, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 25
Race 100%White
Location 98%17 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 months after last seen
Height 68%5'2" vs 5'5"
Weight 18%158 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Blond vs Blond
Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
79%Possible
Jane Doe — Arleta, California - unidentified case UP104482
Jane Doe — Arleta, California
UP104482 • Found Apr 11, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 92%40 mi away, same state
TimingFound 34 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2"–5'5" vs 5'5"
Weight 93%125–145 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP94448
Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP94448 • Found Jun 18, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%20 mi away, same state
TimingFound 33 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2"–5'4" vs 5'5"
Weight 64%140–150 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
Jane Doe — Sunland-Tujunga, California - unidentified case UP3673
Jane Doe — Sunland-Tujunga, California
UP3673 • Found Aug 7, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 88%Est. 14–24 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%38 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2"–5'5" vs 5'5"
Weight 78%133 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 10%Black vs Blond
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
Jane Doe — Long Beach, California - unidentified case UP156951
Jane Doe — Long Beach, California
UP156951 • Found Feb 24, 2026
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 37 years after last seen
Height 84%5'7" vs 5'5"
Weight 76%134 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Blond
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
Jane Doe — Valencia, California
UP3599 • Found Jul 11, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 26–38 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 88%56 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4"–5'7" vs 5'5"
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond

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.