Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 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 (MP27844) and 2 other sources
On March 16, 2014, a day that would become etched in uncertainty, 38-year-old James A. Regalado was last seen in Newburgh, New York. A resident of the Hudson Valley, James was known to have close connections with his family and friends. His sudden absence began under alarming circumstances on the Newburgh Beacon Bridge, a structure spanning the Hudson River in Orange County. On that day, his tractor-trailer was found parked and left unattended on the bridge, a discovery that immediately sparked concern and initiated a long and perplexing investigation into his whereabouts. The last reported sighting of James placed him at this very location, a place that would become the focal point of a mystery that has endured for years.

The investigation into James's disappearance began when authorities were alerted to his abandoned truck. Upon inspection, there were indications that he may have jumped into the Hudson River. A suicide note was reportedly found taped to the window of the vehicle. Investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the bridge, which captured James exiting his truck and walking towards the bridge's barrier. While the video confirmed he approached the edge, it did not definitively show him jumping into the river below, leaving his subsequent actions unclear. In response to this troubling discovery, extensive searches of the Hudson River and the surrounding areas were conducted by law enforcement and search teams, but these efforts yielded no trace of James. The lack of any findings left authorities and his loved ones with more questions than answers.

The years that have passed since James Regalado vanished have not brought any definitive resolution to his case. He is described as a white male, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing between 150 and 160 pounds, with a shaved head and blue eyes. He also went by the alias James A. Turner. Despite the initial indicators at the scene, the absence of any further evidence has made it difficult to determine what precisely happened that day on the Newburgh Beacon Bridge. The case remains an active missing person investigation, a painful and unresolved situation for his family and friends who continue to hope for answers. The perplexing circumstances surrounding his disappearance, from the abandoned truck and note to the inconclusive surveillance footage, have left a lingering mystery that continues to elude investigators.

Last Seen: Mar 16, 2014

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.

80%Moderate
John Doe — Kearny, New Jersey
UP15192 • Found Apr 24, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 89%51 mi away
TimingFound 13 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%140 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP13204
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP13204 • Found Jun 26, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 38
Race 100%White
Location 85%63 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 months after last seen
Height 68%5'5" vs 5'8"
Weight 94%130 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
78%Possible
John Doe — Waterbury, Connecticut
UP94477 • Found Aug 13, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 90%Est. 48–62 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 89%50 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7"–6'1" vs 5'8"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP81157
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP81157 • Found May 26, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 88%55 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%168 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 30%Hazel vs Blue
78%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP50249
John Doe — New York, New York
UP50249 • Found Apr 24, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 82%Est. 45–65 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 88%55 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 5'8"
Weight 98%177 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey - unidentified case UP144221
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP144221 • Found Dec 29, 2024
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 89%51 mi away
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%142 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP16717
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP16717 • Found May 11, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 90%46 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 68%5'5" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%171 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
77%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - unidentified case UP16496
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP16496 • Found Feb 11, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 71%119 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7"–5'10" vs 5'8"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Manhattan, New York - unidentified case UP131734
John Doe — Manhattan, New York
UP131734 • Found Sep 30, 2024
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 89%50 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%143 lb vs 150–160 lb
76%Possible
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP115204
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP115204 • Found Dec 26, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 88%54 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%147 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue

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.