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Louis Balas Missing Person Case

Last seen in Los Angeles, California on Dec 13, 1980

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Victim Details

Mar 3, 2015

Nov 17, 2021

Louis

Balas

122

77

64 inches

160 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Dec 13, 1980

Los Angeles

California

Los Angeles County

No

16364

Los Angeles Police Department- Adult Missing Persons Unit

Los Angeles

California

Los Angeles County

90012

100 West 1st Street, California

8772755273

Local

Law Enforcement

http://www.lapdonline.org/

80-822058

Los Angeles Police Department- Adult Missing Persons Unit

Gray or Partially Gray

Brown

Brown

No

Oct 5, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP27888) and 8 other sources
Louis Balas, a 77-year-old man, and his wife Betty disappeared from their home in the Wilshire district of Los Angeles on December 13, 1980. The circumstances surrounding their disappearance are suspicious. Upon investigating their residence, authorities found the front door open, the television on, and a bathtub filled with water, but there were no signs of a struggle. The couple's maroon 1978 Cadillac was found the following day in a vacant lot, seven miles away from their home, but there were no immediate signs of foul play.

Louis Balas had a heart condition and left behind his nitroglycerin medication, which raised concerns about his well-being. His disappearance occurred just a day before he was scheduled to testify in court against a man who had allegedly kidnapped and robbed him in 1978. Although this connection has not been proven, authorities suspect foul play, believing that up to three individuals, including a possibly pregnant woman, may have been involved in the couple’s disappearance. The case remains unsolved, and Louis and Betty Balas have never been found.
Last Seen: Dec 13, 1980

Links to Additional Sources (8)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Louis Balas - California Department of Justice
  • Louis Balas - The Charley Project
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP27888
  • Betty Balas | State of California - Department of Justice
  • 560DMCA - Louis J. Balas - Doe Network
  • Louis Balas in 1980 from Los Angeles,California - I Care - Tapatalk
  • Police seek three in apparent kidnap of elederly couple - UPI Archives
  • Betty Balas

    • 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 — Los Angeles, California
    UP3925 • Found Dec 22, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 90%Est. 65–75 vs 77 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%4 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5"–5'9" vs 5'4"
    Weight 100%140–165 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    84%Moderate
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP9471 • Found Feb 7, 1982
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 90%Est. 60–75 vs 77 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 14 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'0"–5'5" vs 5'4"
    Weight 40%103 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    83%Moderate
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP3846
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP3846 • Found Jul 25, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 90%Est. 65–75 vs 77 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 98%17 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
    Weight 100%145 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    82%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP4206 • Found Feb 11, 1985
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 90%Est. 60–75 vs 77 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
    Weight 44%105 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    82%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP4324 • Found Nov 8, 1981
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 60–80 vs 77
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 11 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    82%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP4335 • Found Jul 31, 1981
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 60–80 vs 77
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 8 months after last seen
    Height 68%5'7" vs 5'4"
    Weight 100%150 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Carson, California
    UP3709 • Found Jan 1, 1994
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 70–80 vs 77 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%14 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 13 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'7" vs 5'4"
    Weight 100%150 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    81%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP3766 • Found Nov 18, 1992
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 60–80 vs 77 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'4"
    Weight 76%125 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP9100 • Found Nov 4, 1981
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 55–75 vs 77
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%2 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 11 months after last seen
    Height 52%5'8" vs 5'4"
    Weight 94%139 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Venice, California - unidentified case UP3101
    John Doe — Venice, California
    UP3101 • Found Jan 9, 2005
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 90%Est. 65–75 vs 77 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%13 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 24 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'4"
    Weight 100%158 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 70%Brown vs Gray
    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.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Louis and Betty Balas vanished from their Wilshire district home in Los Angeles on December 13... ...Read More
    11/05/2024

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