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 (MP27759) and 5 other sources
On a summer day, July 10, 2014, a 25-year-old man named Joseph D. VanderHouwen was last seen in the city of Lynnwood, Washington. Known to his friends and family as Joey, his disappearance marked the beginning of a long and painful search for answers that has continued for years. The specific circumstances surrounding the last time anyone saw him are not widely known, adding a layer of painful mystery to the case. Since that day, Joey has not been seen or heard from again.

Joey is a white male with blond or brown hair and hazel eyes. At the time he went missing, he stood around 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed approximately 190 pounds. A critical and concerning factor in his disappearance is that Joey is an insulin-dependent diabetic. This medical condition requires consistent management, and without his medication, he is at risk of suffering from diabetic seizures or becoming disoriented and aggressive if his blood sugar is unstable. This vulnerability makes his case particularly urgent and worrisome. It has also been noted that he may have been in a suicidal state of mind around the time he vanished, a detail that adds to the distress of those who care for him.

The investigation into Joey VanderHouwen's disappearance is handled by the Lynnwood Police Department. Despite the passage of time, very few details about his case have been released to the public, and the trail has grown cold. His case is classified as an endangered missing person due to his medical needs and potential state of mind when he was last seen. The overview of this case is one of profound uncertainty; a young man with a significant medical dependency vanished without a trace from a suburban area. The lack of available information has made it incredibly difficult for investigators and his family to find any sense of closure or direction, leaving his whereabouts and well-being an unanswered question.

Last Seen: Jul 10, 2014

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.

80%Moderate
John Doe — Seattle, Washington
UP87994 • Found Jun 14, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 21–44 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%15 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%175 lb vs 190 lb
76%Possible
John Doe — Seattle, Washington
UP51986 • Found Jan 1, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 60%Est. 30–60 vs 25 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%15 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5"–5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%173 lb vs 190 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Blond

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.