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 (MP33089) and 8 other sources
On a summer day in June 2015, Demetrius Branham, a 45-year-old man known to his loved ones as 'Black' or 'Ponce,' disappeared from his life in New Jersey. He was last seen by his family on June 22, 2015. Later that day, he was seen in the Avenel section of Woodbridge, New Jersey, outside a location known as La Mirage on Route 1. Accounts from that day state that he left with a friend, getting into the passenger side of a newer model Mazda 3 sedan. The car was described as being either black or blue, with tinted rear windows and after-market wheels. After entering the vehicle, which had one other occupant, the driver, Demetrius was never seen or heard from by his family and friends again.

Concern grew quickly for Demetrius's well-being. Eight days after he was last seen, his mother officially reported him missing to the Edison Police Department on June 30, 2015. At the time of his disappearance, Demetrius was wearing a red T-shirt, long denim shorts, and sneakers. He is described as a Black male, standing six feet tall and weighing between 200 and 230 pounds. He had brown eyes and his hair was black with some gray. A distinguishing physical feature is a tattoo of the word 'black' on his right upper arm. His absence created a void in the lives of those who knew him, sparking a long and frustrating search for answers.

The investigation into Demetrius Branham's disappearance has remained active for years, yet his whereabouts are still unknown. The circumstances surrounding the day he went missing are unsettling for his family, who have had to endure years of uncertainty. He left with a friend and was expected to return, but simply vanished. Despite the passage of time, the case remains unsolved, a painful reality for his loved ones. The central facts remain: a man in his mid-forties disappeared after getting into a car with another individual, leaving his family with no contact and no closure. The search for Demetrius continues, fueled by the hope that someone with information will come forward and finally provide the answers his family so desperately needs.

Last Seen: Jun 22, 2015

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 — New York, New York - unidentified case UP82201
John Doe — New York, New York
UP82201 • Found Jul 4, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 97%21 mi away
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 70%146 lb vs 200–230 lb
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP16878
John Doe — New York, New York
UP16878 • Found Jul 4, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 83%Est. 50–70 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 97%21 mi away
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%200 lb vs 200–230 lb
Hair 40%Black vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP95929 • Found Aug 24, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 43–58 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 88%56 mi away
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9"–5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%190 lb vs 200–230 lb
Hair 40%Bald vs Gray
80%Moderate
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP82417 • Found Jun 10, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 88%56 mi away
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0"–6'3" vs 6'0"
Weight 78%275–325 lb vs 200–230 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP76881
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP76881 • Found Nov 16, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–75 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 97%22 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 81%158 lb vs 200–230 lb
Hair 40%Black vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — New York - unidentified case UP16188
John Doe — New York
UP16188 • Found Aug 16, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 76%Est. 50–60 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 96%24 mi away
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 73%150 lb vs 200–230 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey - unidentified case UP156066
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP156066 • Found Nov 23, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 86%Est. 58–72 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 99%14 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%183 lb vs 200–230 lb
Hair 70%Black vs Gray
80%Moderate
John Doe — Manhattan, New York - unidentified case UP157697
John Doe — Manhattan, New York
UP157697 • Found Mar 31, 2026
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 97%21 mi away
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1" vs 6'0"
Weight 91%169 lb vs 200–230 lb
Hair 70%Black vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP102967 • Found Apr 17, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 85%63 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1"–6'3" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%225–235 lb vs 200–230 lb
Hair 40%Black vs Gray
79%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP73621
John Doe — New York, New York
UP73621 • Found Sep 7, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 96%25 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%221 lb vs 200–230 lb
Hair 40%Black vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown 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.