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 (MP39966) and 9 other sources
Paul Steven Cosner, a 39-year-old used car dealer, went missing on November 2, 1984, from San Francisco, California. On the day of his disappearance, Cosner left his Marina District home to meet with a potential buyer for his gold 1980 Honda Prelude, which he had advertised for sale. Before leaving, he told his girlfriend that the buyer seemed "weird" but assured her he would return to watch a television show later that evening. He never came back, and both Cosner and his vehicle vanished.

Authorities later linked his disappearance to the infamous serial killers Leonard Lake and Charles Ng. Cosner's car was found in 1985 when Lake and Ng were caught shoplifting in South San Francisco. The vehicle contained some of Cosner's personal items, including his glasses and driver's license. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that Lake and Ng had been luring and murdering individuals, primarily using Lake’s remote cabin in Wilseyville, California, where many victims, including women and children, were tortured and killed.

Although Cosner's body was never found, the discovery of his personal effects and Lake's diary, which mentioned Cosner, led investigators to conclude that he had been murdered by the pair. In 2001, Cosner was officially declared a homicide victim. Despite this, his remains have yet to be identified, though recent advancements in DNA technology give hope to his family that his remains might eventually be found and identified.

Last Seen: Nov 2, 1984

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
John Doe — Sausalito, California
UP17743 • Found Feb 17, 1987
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 33–39 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 99%160 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Sausalito, California
UP17718 • Found Sep 9, 1990
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 99%160 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Gray vs Hazel
82%Moderate
John Doe — Oakland, California
UP54081 • Found Dec 12, 1986
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%8 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 0%219 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
82%Moderate
John Doe — California
UP17744 • Found Feb 11, 1986
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–40 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%28 mi away, same state
TimingFound 15 months after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
82%Moderate
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5935 • Found Jan 18, 1993
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 92%165 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
81%Moderate
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5923 • Found Oct 17, 1987
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%140 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — San Jose, California
UP127425 • Found Jun 14, 1997
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 88%53 mi away, same state
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%139 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Burlingame, California
UP9898 • Found Oct 5, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 33–46 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%15 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%142 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
80%Moderate
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5919 • Found Apr 1, 1987
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 53%190 lb vs 145 lb
80%Moderate
John Doe — San Francisco, California - unidentified case UP146037
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP146037 • Found Oct 10, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 30 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5"–5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 95%127 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 70%Gray 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.