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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 (MP31388) and 5 other sources
On a November night in 1981, twenty-four-year-old Benjamin Logan Bullitt vanished from his yacht on Lake Washington in Seattle. The young man, a member of a prominent Seattle family, was on the water with his girlfriend and a business partner from his antique store. Officially, Benjamin is presumed to have accidentally fallen from his vessel and drowned in the dark, cold waters of the lake. He was last seen on November 25, 1981, and despite efforts to find him, his body was never recovered from the depths of Lake Washington. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance left his loved ones with lingering questions and a profound sense of unresolved loss that would span decades.

The official account of an accidental drowning was met with skepticism and heartache by Benjamin's family. His mother, Kay Bullitt, and his sisters firmly believed that he was murdered. This belief was fueled by several unsettling details surrounding the incident. Benjamin was reportedly carrying a significant amount of cash, a bankroll that was never found. His girlfriend's distressing account of the event, in which she reportedly shrieked that 'They kept pushing his head underwater,' further solidified the family's conviction of foul play. In the aftermath of their son's disappearance, the Bullitt family's grief was compounded by the lack of answers. His father, Stimson Bullitt, hired a private investigator to delve deeper into the case and even commissioned a nearly week-long effort to drag the lake off Leschi in search of his son, but these efforts yielded nothing.

The investigation into what happened that night on Lake Washington ultimately proved inconclusive, with two separate police inquiries unable to resolve the conflicting accounts and mysterious circumstances. Over the years, the Bullitt family has continued to honor Benjamin's memory through obituaries and memorials, marking the anniversary of a day that forever changed their lives. The case of Benjamin Bullitt remains a somber story, a narrative of a young life cut short under a cloud of uncertainty. While officially classified as a presumed drowning, the persistent belief of his family and the unanswered questions surrounding his final moments on his yacht leave a tragic and unresolved mystery.

Last Seen: Nov 25, 1981

Possible Unidentified Matches (4)

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.

82%Moderate
John Doe — Washington - unidentified case UP5697
John Doe — Washington
UP5697 • Found Mar 18, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–24 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 92%38 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%155 lb vs 143 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Issaquah, Washington - unidentified case UP8582
John Doe — Issaquah, Washington
UP8582 • Found Jan 15, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%15 mi away, same county
TimingFound 21 years after last seen
Height 84%5'3"–5'8" vs 5'10"
75%Possible
John Doe — Portland, Oregon - unidentified case UP11907
John Doe — Portland, Oregon
UP11907 • Found Aug 25, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 66%146 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 96%160 lb vs 143 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Portland, Oregon - unidentified case UP11906
John Doe — Portland, Oregon
UP11906 • Found Jul 28, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 66%146 mi away
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 96%160 lb vs 143 lb
Hair 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.