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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 (MP32884) and 2 other sources
In the winter of 1978, a 19-year-old man named Lewis Richard Johnson, also known as JJ, vanished from Virginia Beach, Virginia. On February 22nd, he was last seen leaving a friend's residence and getting into a small red compact car. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a White male with blond hair and hazel eyes, standing at 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing between 155 and 160 pounds. The clothing he was wearing was distinctive: blue jeans, with one leg cut out, a black jacket, and a black shirt with the word 'reefers' on it.

The circumstances leading up to Johnson's disappearance are unsettling. He had recently been the victim of a malicious assault that resulted in a broken leg, which explains the cut-out leg of his jeans. He was scheduled to appear in court the day after he was last seen in connection with this assault, but he never arrived. Worryingly, when he left his friend's house, he did not take any of his personal belongings with him, suggesting his departure may not have been planned. The Virginia Beach Police Department was notified of his disappearance the following day, February 23, 1978, and opened an investigation.

Despite the passage of many years, the case of Lewis Richard Johnson remains unresolved, and information about what happened to him is scarce. His case is a painful reminder of the many individuals whose fates remain unknown, leaving their loved ones with unanswered questions. The Virginia Beach Police Department continues to list him as a missing person, a cold case that serves as a testament to the enduring hope for answers and justice. The investigation into his disappearance is a quiet but persistent effort to bring closure to a story that has remained unfinished for decades.

Last Seen: Feb 22, 1978

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (7)

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 — Chesapeake, Virginia - unidentified case UP9340
John Doe — Chesapeake, Virginia
UP9340 • Found Nov 19, 1983
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%17 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7"–5'9" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%140–150 lb vs 155–160 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
80%Moderate
John Doe — Virginia Beach, Virginia
UP6745 • Found May 22, 1981
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10"–6'1" vs 5'8"
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
79%Possible
John Doe — Chesapeake, Virginia - unidentified case UP9342
John Doe — Chesapeake, Virginia
UP9342 • Found Jul 20, 1982
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%18 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%5'4"–5'6" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%120–140 lb vs 155–160 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
77%Possible
John Doe — Skippers, Virginia - unidentified case UP59913
John Doe — Skippers, Virginia
UP59913 • Found Feb 24, 1978
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 77%Est. 21–30 vs 19
Race 100%White
Location 77%91 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 days after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%170 lb vs 155–160 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
76%Possible
John Doe — Pocomoke, Maryland - unidentified case UP5881
John Doe — Pocomoke, Maryland
UP5881 • Found Sep 5, 1985
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 79%87 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
75%Possible
John Doe — Virginia
UP113401 • Found Oct 18, 1984
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 60%Est. 19–49 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%33 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7"–5'8" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%140–150 lb vs 155–160 lb
75%Possible
John Doe — Newport News, Virginia - unidentified case UP5532
John Doe — Newport News, Virginia
UP5532 • Found Apr 7, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 92%41 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6"–5'9" vs 5'8"

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.