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Crime Solvers Central
302 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 (MP26468) and 5 other sources
In the late spring of 2003, concern began to grow for 54-year-old James J. McGinn, a resident of Schaumburg, Illinois, who lived by himself. On May 21, 2003, with no word from him, his family took the step of officially reporting him as a missing person to the Schaumburg Police Department in Cook County. The last time any family member had seen him was four days earlier, on May 17, 2003, in Riverwoods, a village in nearby Lake County, Illinois. On that day, James, who was also known as Jim, was seen driving his green 1996 Ford Taurus sedan. The car had an Illinois license plate, KARMC1. This final sighting of him driving away would become the starting point of a long and unresolved investigation.

The days and weeks following the report of his disappearance turned into an agonizing wait for answers for his loved ones. James was described as a white male, standing six feet tall and weighing around 230 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. An important aspect of his case that concerned both his family and law enforcement was that he lived with bipolar disorder and depression. Despite the efforts of the Schaumburg Police Department, the investigation yielded no significant leads to explain where he might have gone. His green Ford Taurus, a key piece of potential evidence, seemed to have vanished along with him, as it was never recovered. The absence of any communication, financial activity, or use of his vehicle only deepened the mystery surrounding his sudden disappearance.

Years have passed since James McGinn was last seen, and his case remains an open and troubling puzzle. The investigation, though persistent, has not been able to uncover any substantial evidence to shed light on what happened to him after he drove away on that May afternoon. The lack of resolution leaves his family with lingering questions and a profound sense of loss. The official report was filed with the Schaumburg Police Department, and despite the passage of time, the search for answers continues. The overview of the case is that James McGinn, a man dealing with mental health challenges, disappeared without a trace after being last seen by his family, leaving behind a mystery that has endured for years.

Last Seen: May 17, 2003

Possible Unidentified Matches (9)

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 — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP11512
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP11512 • Found May 2, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 54 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%24 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 41%149 lb vs 230 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP8357 • Found Oct 8, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 54 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%18 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 55%160 lb vs 230 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP129247 • Found Oct 11, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 54
Race 100%White
Location 96%25 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 months after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 83%188 lb vs 230 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Summit, Illinois - unidentified case UP8588
John Doe — Summit, Illinois
UP8588 • Found Jan 3, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–65 vs 54 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%27 mi away, same state
TimingFound 20 months after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 81%185 lb vs 230 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Illinois - unidentified case UP10829
John Doe — Illinois
UP10829 • Found Sep 14, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 54 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%31 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 68%6'3" vs 6'0"
Weight 95%259 lb vs 230 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 30%Hazel vs Blue
77%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP13750 • Found Mar 9, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 54 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%24 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%216 lb vs 230 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
77%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP6966
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP6966 • Found Apr 15, 2010
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 38–55 vs 54 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%24 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 77%180 lb vs 230 lb
77%Possible
John Doe — Park Forest, Illinois - unidentified case UP5263
John Doe — Park Forest, Illinois
UP5263 • Found Oct 9, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 54 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 90%48 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 68%6'3" vs 6'0"
Weight 43%150 lb vs 230 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP139126 • Found Jun 8, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 84%Est. 38–52 vs 54 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%18 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1" vs 6'0"
Weight 43%150 lb vs 230 lb
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.