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Crime Solvers Central
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 (MP26319) and 3 other sources
On a winter day in Colonia, New Jersey, 38-year-old Robert D. Flanagan was seen for the last time on January 14, 1998. The specific details surrounding the circumstances of his disappearance remain limited, leaving a void in the narrative of that fateful day. What is known is that he vanished, leaving behind questions that have lingered for decades. The investigation into his disappearance was handled by the Woodbridge Police Department, but the trail appears to have grown cold over the years, with few, if any, public updates on the status of the case. The lack of available information regarding the investigation itself has left a family without answers and a community with a lingering sense of unease.

Robert, at the time of his disappearance, was a man with distinct features that his loved ones hoped would lead to his return. He was a white male, standing at 5'11" and weighing approximately 250 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. His appearance was marked by a mole on his right cheek and several scars on his forearms. A tattoo of the name "DAN" was inscribed on his left forearm. On the day he went missing, he was dressed in a navy blue New York Yankees baseball cap, a black sweatshirt, and black sweatpants. He was also wearing white socks and black Nike sneakers. He wore reading glasses and carried a black wallet, personal items that offer a small glimpse into the life of the man who seemingly vanished without a trace.

The case of Robert Flanagan is a somber reminder of the many individuals who go missing each year, their stories often fading from public view as time passes. Despite the passage of more than two decades, the fundamental questions surrounding his disappearance remain unanswered. The available information, primarily from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System provides a snapshot of who Robert was at the time he went missing but offers little in the way of a narrative of what might have happened to him. The absence of public reports on investigative efforts or leads makes it difficult to piece together a comprehensive overview of the case. The official record stands as a testament to a life interrupted, a story without a conclusion, leaving only the hope that one day, answers will surface and bring closure to those who have waited so long.

Last Seen: Jan 14, 1998

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 — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP6309
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP6309 • Found Aug 12, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 38
Race 100%White
Location 97%20 mi away
TimingFound 7 months after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Weight 8%132 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Hazel vs Hazel
83%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6047
John Doe — New York, New York
UP6047 • Found May 1, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
Weight 32%154 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
83%Moderate
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP1607 • Found Oct 13, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 38
Race 100%White
Location 100%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 months after last seen
Height 68%5'8" vs 5'11"
Weight 84%205 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Woodbridge, New Jersey
UP1497 • Found Jan 17, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
Weight 56%175 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP6100
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP6100 • Found Jan 3, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 38
Race 100%White
Location 95%29 mi away
TimingFound 12 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
Weight 82%202 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
81%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5231
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5231 • Found Jun 7, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%18 mi away
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Weight 63%181 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5596
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5596 • Found Feb 22, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%18 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Weight 95%219 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 50%Red vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP2756
John Doe — New York, New York
UP2756 • Found May 15, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%18 mi away
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'11"
Weight 76%195 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
81%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5784
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5784 • Found Jul 16, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%20 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Weight 28%150 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
81%Moderate
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP6123
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP6123 • Found May 6, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%29 mi away
TimingFound 16 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
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.