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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 (MP34295) and 8 other sources
Danielle Alise Adams, a 21-year-old female, vanished in Detroit, Michigan, on or about May 20, 2016. At the time of her disappearance, she was described as a biracial woman of Black and White descent, standing between 4'10' and 4'11' and weighing between 120 and 130 pounds. She had long, curly black hair, hazel eyes, and numerous distinct piercings, including three in each ear, one in her nose, and another in her navel. Danielle is also heavily tattooed with inkings that include the name 'Shelley' on her right bicep, a yin-yang symbol on her left arm, six stars on her right hand, the phrase 'Kissed by an Angel' near her right shoulder, and 'Laugh Now, Cry Later' on her upper back. The night she went missing, she was reportedly wearing a sweatshirt and dark-colored jogging pants. She was last seen by a cousin on the west side of Detroit, in the vicinity of Intervale and Freeland streets.

The circumstances surrounding Danielle's disappearance have left her family with many unanswered questions. She had told her mother she was stepping out to get something to eat but never came back. While she had a history of running away from home, her complete silence and lack of contact with loved ones were highly uncharacteristic. The sudden halt of all her social media and phone activity immediately after she was last seen was a significant cause for alarm for her family. Adopted at the age of 11, Danielle was living with her mother at the time she vanished. The investigation into her disappearance took a troubling turn when detectives discovered a personal ad featuring Danielle on Backpage.com, a classified advertising website that was often used for soliciting sexual services, leading to fears that she may have been a victim of human trafficking.

Despite the passage of years, Danielle's case has grown cold, though it remains an open investigation with the Detroit Police Department. Her boyfriend at the time was questioned by authorities, but no suspects have been publicly named in connection with her disappearance. The discovery of the online ad has not yet generated any significant leads to determine her whereabouts. The case of Danielle Alise Adams is a distressing example of a young life interrupted, leaving a family to grapple with ambiguity and hope for answers. The combination of her uncharacteristic lack of communication, the cessation of her online presence, and the disturbing discovery of the Backpage.com ad paints a grim picture of the potential dangers she may have encountered.

Last Seen: May 20, 2016

Possible Unidentified Matches (2)

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.

81%Moderate
Jane Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP95924 • Found Sep 21, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 19–29 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%4'10"–5'4" vs 4'10"–4'11"
76%Possible
Jane Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP68363
Jane Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP68363 • Found Apr 15, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 49%Est. 30–40 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%1 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0"–5'2" vs 4'10"–4'11"
Weight 80%90–95 lb vs 120–130 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black

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.