Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 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 (MP37670) and 4 other sources
In the late summer of 1987, a young man named Thomas Howard Parish vanished from the central Connecticut area, leaving behind a void of information and a family searching for answers. At the age of 26, Thomas was last seen by his mother around the Labor Day holiday. The specific date of his last contact is documented as August 15, 1987, and the location of his disappearance is thought to be either Durham or Branford, Connecticut. In the days and weeks that followed, the lack of communication from Thomas grew into a serious concern, eventually leading to him being reported as a missing person. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear, with few details available to the public.

Thomas Howard Parish was a man with a distinct appearance. Standing between 5'8' and 5'10' and weighing approximately 160 to 165 pounds, he had a noticeable presence. His hair was a blondish-brown, and he had blue eyes. His appearance was further marked by several distinguishing features, including a chipped front tooth and a small scar that ran through his left eyebrow. He also had numerous scars on his knuckles. Tattoos adorned his arms; a Playboy bunny was on his upper right arm, and a depiction of a tank was on his lower right arm. He was known to bite his nails out of nervousness and often dressed in blue jeans and flannel shirts. At the time of his disappearance, he was also known by the alias David Pardus.

The investigation into Thomas Parish's disappearance has spanned decades, yet his whereabouts remain unknown. The official NamUs case was created on March 31, 2017, nearly thirty years after he was last seen, and the case was reported to the Connecticut State Police on April 4, 1988. The available information paints a picture of a young man who seemingly vanished without a trace, leaving his loved ones to wonder what became of him. The case is an ongoing reminder of the lasting impact of a person's disappearance, not only on their immediate family but on the wider community as well. The lack of resolution in Thomas's case highlights the painful ambiguity that accompanies long-term missing person investigations.

Last Seen: Aug 15, 1987

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.

82%Moderate
John Doe — Weehawken, New Jersey
UP1673 • Found May 1, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–30 vs 26
Race 100%White
Location 79%86 mi away
TimingFound 9 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%150 lb vs 160–165 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP14941
John Doe — New York, New York
UP14941 • Found Dec 17, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 79%87 mi away
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%153 lb vs 160–165 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP5800
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP5800 • Found Dec 5, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 81%78 mi away
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%169 lb vs 160–165 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP6883
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP6883 • Found Sep 11, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 78%88 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%170 lb vs 160–165 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 70%Gray vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP7736
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP7736 • Found Jun 12, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 79%86 mi away
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%150 lb vs 160–165 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP8460
John Doe — New York, New York
UP8460 • Found Aug 20, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 79%87 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%175 lb vs 160–165 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP8096
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP8096 • Found Dec 19, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 82%76 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 95%185 lb vs 160–165 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5603
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5603 • Found Aug 5, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 79%86 mi away
TimingFound 19 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 160–165 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Cornwall, New York - unidentified case UP9820
John Doe — Cornwall, New York
UP9820 • Found Mar 19, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 83%70 mi away
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"–5'10"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 160–165 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Old Saybrook, Connecticut - unidentified case UP1821
John Doe — Old Saybrook, Connecticut
UP1821 • Found Mar 31, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–35 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%20 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"–5'10"

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.