Crime Solvers Central
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 (MP27070) and 6 other sources
Jonathan Lewis Ginsburg, a 32-year-old man, was last seen at his home in Albany, California, on October 7, 1987. Ginsburg, who was born with mild cerebral palsy and was deaf, used a combination of sign language and speech to communicate. He had a history of depression and was particularly despondent over a recent failed relationship at the time of his disappearance. Given these factors, authorities suspect that he may have taken his own life, though his body has never been found, and the case remains unsolved.

Ginsburg led a life of diverse interests and challenges. He had studied forestry at Kings River Community College, hoping to become a firefighter, but his disabilities prevented him from pursuing that career. Instead, he worked at an eye-care product lab in Oakland. He was also an artist and was honored by the Creative Center in Visalia, where an art gallery for disabled adults was named after him. Despite his accomplishments, his struggle with depression may have contributed to his disappearance.

At the time he went missing, Ginsburg was 5'8" and weighed about 135 pounds. He had brown hair, brown eyes, and wore hearing aids. His case is still classified as an endangered missing person.

Last Seen: Oct 7, 1987

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.

85%Strong
John Doe — Burlingame, California
UP9898 • Found Oct 5, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 33–46 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%22 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%142 lb vs 135 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5935 • Found Jan 18, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 5'8"
Weight 76%165 lb vs 135 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Tiburon, California
UP7084 • Found Aug 20, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–40 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%130 lb vs 135 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Palo Alto, California - unidentified case UP127061
John Doe — Palo Alto, California
UP127061 • Found May 23, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%36 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7"–5'9" vs 5'8"
Weight 87%157–172 lb vs 135 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Sausalito, California
UP17718 • Found Sep 9, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 99%Est. 35–45 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 68%5'11" vs 5'8"
Weight 83%160 lb vs 135 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Gray vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — San Jose, California
UP124017 • Found May 4, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 32 when missing
Race 60%Hispanic
Location 90%49 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 87%157 lb vs 135 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Sausalito, California
UP7082 • Found Aug 21, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same state
TimingFound 20 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 5'8"
Weight 83%160 lb vs 135 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP8972 • Found Jun 27, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — San Francisco, California - unidentified case UP146037
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP146037 • Found Oct 10, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%16 mi away, same state
TimingFound 27 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5"–5'9" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%127 lb vs 135 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Millbrae, California - unidentified case UP16409
John Doe — Millbrae, California
UP16409 • Found Feb 23, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 60–80 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away, same state
TimingFound 29 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 98%120 lb vs 135 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
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.