Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP28723) and 3 other sources
In the late summer of 2014, the city of Detroit became the backdrop for a quiet disappearance that would leave a family with unanswered questions for years to come. William Raymond McGruder, a 60-year-old man known to his loved ones as 'Billy Ray,' was last seen on September 2, 2014. A resident of Detroit, Michigan, William was a familiar face in his community. His last known location was in the vicinity of Woodward Avenue and MAC 3rd in Detroit. After that day, he was never heard from again, initiating a long and painful search for answers by his family and law enforcement.

William McGruder is described as a Black male with graying hair and brown eyes. At the time he went missing, he stood between 5'7' and 5'9' and weighed around 155 pounds. He had a mustache and would occasionally wear glasses. A distinctive scar marked the left side of his forehead. William also had a noticeable limp due to problems with his leg and foot, which required him to use a cane and wear a specially made shoe on his right foot. He relied on public transportation to get around the city. His family knew him by the nickname Billy Ray, and he may have also used the last name Terry.

The circumstances surrounding William's disappearance remain unclear, with very few details available to the public. The Detroit Police Department is the primary investigating agency for his case. Despite the passage of time, his case remains open, a lingering source of uncertainty and hope for his loved ones. The lack of significant leads or information has made the investigation challenging, leaving both his family and authorities searching for the pieces to a puzzle that has remained incomplete for over a decade. The overview of his case is one of a sudden and unexplained absence, a man with distinct physical characteristics who seemingly vanished from a busy area of the city without a trace.

Last Seen: Sep 2, 2014

Possible Unidentified Matches (9)

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 — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP14804
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP14804 • Found Jan 22, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'7"–5'9"
Weight 100%170 lb vs 155–160 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP15959
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP15959 • Found Sep 21, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"–5'9"
Weight 76%120 lb vs 155–160 lb
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP129330
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP129330 • Found Sep 4, 2024
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"–5'9"
Weight 83%126 lb vs 155–160 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
79%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP17123 • Found Sep 22, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–70 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%8 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8"–6'2" vs 5'7"–5'9"
79%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP17244 • Found Mar 8, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 60 when missing
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0"–5'6" vs 5'7"–5'9"
Weight 100%154 lb vs 155–160 lb
79%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP13877
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP13877 • Found Mar 22, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 60
Race 100%Black
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 months after last seen
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP85815
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP85815 • Found Feb 1, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 60%Est. 45–75 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%4 mi away, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"–5'9"
Weight 83%126 lb vs 155–160 lb
Hair 40%Black vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP109411
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP109411 • Found Jul 19, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–75 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 52%6'1" vs 5'7"–5'9"
Weight 76%120 lb vs 155–160 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
76%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP64971 • Found Dec 14, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 60%Est. 50–85 vs 60 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'7"–5'9"
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray

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.