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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 (MP23320) and 2 other sources
In the quiet town of Payson, Arizona, a mystery began to unfold on June 9, 2000, that continues to baffle those familiar with the case of Howard Lamar Harris. On that day, the 39-year-old man was at his home. His wife informed him that she was heading out to the store for what was expected to be a short trip. However, when she returned approximately an hour later, she found the home empty. Howard, a man with graying hair and blue eyes, had vanished, leaving behind a silence that would stretch into years of unanswered questions. The initial moments of his absence were marked by a confusing array of clues.

An immediate search of the residence revealed that most of Howard's personal belongings were still in their place. This suggested that his departure was not planned. However, two crucial items were missing: his wallet and his Arizona driver's license. The presence of his other possessions indicated he may have intended to return, yet the absence of his identification hinted at a journey of some kind. Complicating the scenario was the fact that Howard did not have access to any vehicles, leaving his potential means of travel a perplexing unknown. He stood at 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed around 160 pounds. Distinctive scars on his back and burns on his torso, the result of a past vehicle fire, served as unique identifying marks that authorities hoped would aid in his location.

The Gila County Sheriff's Office was tasked with the investigation into Howard's sudden disappearance. Despite the passage of time, the case has remained stubbornly cold, with very few details emerging in the years since he was last seen. No significant leads have been publicly identified, and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance are as sparse today as they were in 2000. The narrative of his case is one of abrupt and unexplained absence. A man was home one moment and gone the next, leaving behind a life and a family to grapple with the ambiguity of his fate. The case of Howard Lamar Harris is an enduring mystery, a story without a final chapter, leaving a community and a family with the lingering pain of not knowing what happened on that June day.

Last Seen: Jun 9, 2000

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (8)

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.

78%Possible
John Doe — Rio Verde, Arizona - unidentified case UP13861
John Doe — Rio Verde, Arizona
UP13861 • Found Apr 28, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 92%40 mi away, same state
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Hair 70%Brown vs Gray
78%Possible
John Doe — Peoria, Arizona - unidentified case UP142022
John Doe — Peoria, Arizona
UP142022 • Found Feb 12, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 57–70 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%63 mi away, same state
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%120–150 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
76%Possible
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP819
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP819 • Found Aug 2, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 84%68 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 84%5'9" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%155 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 40%Black vs Gray
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
76%Possible
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP2040
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP2040 • Found Apr 19, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%64 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
Hair 40%Brown vs Gray
76%Possible
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1971
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1971 • Found Apr 7, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 39
Race 100%White
Location 82%74 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 months after last seen
Height 68%5'8" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 40%Brown vs Gray
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
76%Possible
John Doe — Williams, Arizona - unidentified case UP9961
John Doe — Williams, Arizona
UP9961 • Found Feb 16, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 39
Race 100%White
Location 79%86 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 months after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'11"
75%Possible
John Doe — Flagstaff, Arizona - unidentified case UP77542
John Doe — Flagstaff, Arizona
UP77542 • Found Jan 28, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 84%69 mi away, same state
TimingFound 21 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9"–5'11" vs 5'11"
75%Possible
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP729
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP729 • Found Jun 16, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 26–42 vs 39 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 83%72 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'11"

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.

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