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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 (MP35183) and 6 other sources
The disappearance of Furman Joseph Byrd is a case shrouded in mystery, largely due to the significant passage of time before he was officially reported missing. An 18-year-old African American male, Furman was last seen in the summer of 1968. Information regarding his last known whereabouts is conflicting, with some sources indicating he was last seen in Cleveland, Ohio, on June 28, 1968, while others state he was last seen in Boston, Massachusetts, on July 1, 1968. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as being approximately 5'6' to 5'10' tall and weighing between 130 and 170 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are incredibly sparse, with no details available about the clothing he was wearing or his state of mind at the time.

A significant and perplexing aspect of Furman Byrd's case is the nearly 50-year delay in him being reported missing. He vanished in 1968, yet a missing person report was not filed with the Cleveland Police Department until 2016. The reasons for this lengthy delay have not been made public, adding another layer of complexity to an already cold case. This passage of time has undoubtedly contributed to the scarcity of information and the difficulty in piecing together the events leading up to his disappearance. The investigation is being handled by the Cleveland Police Department, despite the possibility that he was last seen in Boston.

There is some information to suggest that Furman may have been an art student in Boston at the time he went missing. This detail offers a potential avenue for investigation, suggesting a life and connections in a city far from where he was eventually reported missing. However, concrete details about which school he may have attended or the extent of his life in Boston are not readily available. Without a clear timeline or understanding of his movements between Cleveland and Boston, investigators and his loved ones are left with a collection of fragmented information. The case of Furman Joseph Byrd is a poignant reminder of how a person can vanish, and how the passage of time can obscure the path to finding answers, leaving a family to wonder for decades what became of their loved one.

Last Seen: Jun 28, 1968

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.

85%Strong
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio - unidentified case UP14900
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio
UP14900 • Found Apr 20, 1975
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–25 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'6"–5'10"
Weight 99%165 lb vs 130–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
85%Strong
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio - unidentified case UP14899
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio
UP14899 • Found Dec 27, 1974
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 94%Est. 25–35 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'6"–5'10"
Weight 100%146 lb vs 130–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio - unidentified case UP16573
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio
UP16573 • Found Aug 24, 1986
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–25 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%4 mi away, same county
TimingFound 18 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'6"–5'10"
Weight 100%163 lb vs 130–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio
UP15806 • Found Jul 19, 1983
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'6"–5'10"
Weight 100%158 lb vs 130–150 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio
UP17656 • Found Jul 17, 1972
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–24 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"–5'10"
Weight 100%145 lb vs 130–150 lb
81%Moderate
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP12055
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP12055 • Found Jul 12, 1974
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 78%90 mi away
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'6"–5'10"
Weight 100%154 lb vs 130–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP12114 • Found Jul 1, 1971
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 78%90 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 84%6'0" vs 5'6"–5'10"
Weight 97%166 lb vs 130–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Garfield Heights, Ohio - unidentified case UP1878
John Doe — Garfield Heights, Ohio
UP1878 • Found Sep 11, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–21 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%8 mi away, same county
TimingFound 23 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"–5'10"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
80%Moderate
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio
UP1869 • Found Sep 11, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 20 years after last seen
Height 84%6'0" vs 5'6"–5'10"
Weight 46%197 lb vs 130–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP56057
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP56057 • Found Mar 4, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 16–25 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 78%90 mi away
TimingFound 23 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10"–6'1" vs 5'6"–5'10"
Weight 100%155–160 lb vs 130–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
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.

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