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Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP30163)
In the state of New Jersey, the case of Surinder Kumar Dahwan remains a troubling and unresolved disappearance that has left a family with unanswered questions for decades. In the autumn of 1989, Surinder, a 39-year-old man of Asian descent, vanished under circumstances that suggest a violent abduction. He was last seen in North Bergen, a town in Hudson County, on what is believed to be November 23rd. At the time of his disappearance, he stood at a height of six feet and weighed approximately 145 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. The day he went missing, he was dressed in a grey jacket, a shirt of an unspecified color, blue jeans, and brown shoes, accessorized with a brown belt. The unsettling details surrounding his last known moments point towards a possible kidnapping from the vicinity of 1300 Tonnelle Avenue by three unidentified males.

The location from which Surinder was reportedly taken was known at the time as the Meadowlands Motel. This establishment, situated in a busy area, has since changed ownership and is now a Howard Johnson hotel. In the 1980s, motels like the Meadowlands were sometimes used as subsidized housing, and the area was known to have issues with crime. It was from this location that Surinder was allegedly forced into a white vehicle by his abductors. Beyond this sparse and disturbing detail, there is a stark lack of information available to the public regarding the events that transpired on that November day. The case was reported to the North Bergen Police Department on December 10, 1989, several weeks after he was last seen.

The investigation into Surinder Kumar Dahwan's disappearance has been ongoing, but the passage of time has presented significant challenges. With limited information and few leads, the case has grown cold, leaving his loved ones in a perpetual state of uncertainty. The North Bergen Police Department holds the case file, but the trail of the three unknown men and the white vehicle has long gone cold. The lack of resolution in Surinder's case is a heavy burden for his family, who have had to endure years of not knowing his fate. The overview of this case is one of a sudden and violent disappearance with very little information to go on, leaving a lasting void in the lives of those who knew and loved him.

Last Seen: Nov 23, 1989

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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.

84%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6830
John Doe — New York, New York
UP6830 • Found Nov 4, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 100%6 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%155 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP7856
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP7856 • Found Sep 9, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 99%13 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%140 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP6323
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP6323 • Found Oct 12, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 99%13 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'0"
Weight 74%178 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7433
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7433 • Found Feb 7, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 100%3 mi away
TimingFound 15 months after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%150 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP8215
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP8215 • Found Oct 16, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 39
Race 100%Asian
Location 99%13 mi away
TimingFound 11 months after last seen
Height 52%5'8" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%147 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP7328
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP7328 • Found Feb 10, 2010
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 99%13 mi away
TimingFound 20 years after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%148 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP6307
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP6307 • Found Aug 11, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 100%9 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 36%5'7" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%140 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP8222
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP8222 • Found Nov 5, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 39
Race 100%Asian
Location 99%13 mi away
TimingFound 11 months after last seen
Height 36%5'7" vs 6'0"
Weight 95%127 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP16605 • Found May 18, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 81%79 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 52%5'8" vs 6'0"
Weight 99%130 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Manhattan, New York - unidentified case UP150492
John Doe — Manhattan, New York
UP150492 • Found Aug 7, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 100%4 mi away
TimingFound 36 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'0"
Weight 0%225 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 70%Gray 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.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.