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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 (MP27335) and 5 other sources
In the summer of 1980, a young man named James Natalia Foster vanished from the small town of Steilacoom, Washington, leaving behind a mystery that has endured for decades. On July 6th of that year, the 19-year-old African American male was seen for the last time. Some records alternatively cite the last contact date as July 30, 1980. At the time of his disappearance, James was described as being 5'8' tall and weighing approximately 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. The circumstances surrounding the day he went missing are regrettably scarce, with very little information available to the public or investigators about what might have led to his disappearance.

The life of James Foster in the period leading up to his disappearance remains largely undocumented in publicly available sources. Details regarding his activities, his relationships, or his state of mind at the time are not on record. It is not known what he was wearing on the day he was last seen, or if he had any personal belongings with him. This lack of information has created a significant challenge for law enforcement and his family in trying to piece together the timeline of his last known movements. The absence of these crucial details has left a void in the narrative of his life, making it difficult to understand the context in which he vanished.

The investigation into James Natalia Foster's disappearance is handled by the Steilacoom Department of Public Safety. Despite the passage of many years, his case remains an open and unresolved missing persons investigation. The profound lack of information and the cold trail of evidence have been major obstacles in determining what happened to him. Without witnesses to his disappearance or any subsequent contact, the case is a somber reminder of a young life interrupted by unknown circumstances. The overview of this case is one of an enduring and painful mystery, a young man who disappeared without a trace, leaving his loved ones with unanswered questions that have echoed through the years.

Last Seen: Jul 30, 1980

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

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.

81%Moderate
John Doe — Seattle, Washington
UP10790 • Found May 12, 1984
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 94%33 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 52%6'0" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%138 lb vs 140 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Portland, Oregon - unidentified case UP10582
John Doe — Portland, Oregon
UP10582 • Found Apr 25, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 19 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 72%115 mi away
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"
Weight 77%170 lb vs 140 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
76%Possible
John Doe — Mount Rainier, Washington
UP5704 • Found Sep 26, 1987
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 19 when missing
Location 90%45 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%130 lb vs 140 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black

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.