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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 (MP23095) and 2 other sources
In the winter of 1986, a 38-year-old man named Gordon John Miklethun vanished from Las Vegas, Nevada, leaving behind a life and a family with no clear explanation as to what might have happened. The last confirmed sighting of Gordon was with his parents at an establishment on Spring Mountain. From there, he reportedly intended to go home. This ordinary evening took a turn into a lasting mystery when Gordon failed to appear for work the following day, prompting concern that would stretch into decades of unanswered questions. His disappearance was formally reported to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, initiating a case that has remained open and unresolved. At the time he went missing, Gordon was described as a white male with black hair and blue eyes, standing between 5'10' and 6'0' tall and weighing between 170 and 180 pounds. In photographs, he consistently had a mustache, and was known to wear a watch.

The circumstances surrounding Gordon's disappearance are sparse, offering few clues for investigators to follow. After parting ways with his parents, his planned journey home seems to have been interrupted by an unknown event. There were no immediate signs of foul play or any indication that he had planned to leave. All of his personal belongings were left behind, suggesting he did not voluntarily disappear. The abruptness of his absence and the lack of any communication were completely out of character, deepening the concern of his loved ones and the authorities. Over the years, law enforcement has kept his case file active, but with very little information to go on, the investigation has faced significant challenges.

Decades have passed since Gordon Miklethun was last seen, and his case has grown cold, yet the hope for answers persists. His information has been entered into national databases for missing persons, including NamUs, under the case number MP23095, in an effort to generate new leads from a wider audience. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department continues to list him as a missing person, and periodically, his story is shared by online communities and cold case forums dedicated to keeping the memories of the missing alive. The lack of resolution has left a void in the lives of his family, who have endured an agonizingly long period of uncertainty. The overview of this case is one of a sudden and unexplained disappearance that has left more questions than answers, a poignant reminder of the many individuals who vanish without a trace.

Last Seen: Jan 19, 1986

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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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.

83%Moderate
John Doe — Nevada
UP9029 • Found Sep 7, 1987
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 20 months after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
82%Moderate
John Doe — Nevada
UP9102 • Found Oct 18, 1987
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 21 months after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 80%135 lb vs 170–180 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Las Vegas, Nevada - unidentified case UP9009
John Doe — Las Vegas, Nevada
UP9009 • Found Jan 19, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%177 lb vs 170–180 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Black
Eyes 30%Hazel vs Blue
81%Moderate
John Doe — Boulder City, Nevada
UP269 • Found Jul 7, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%22 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 86%140 lb vs 170–180 lb
Hair 15%Red vs Black
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
81%Moderate
John Doe — Las Vegas, Nevada
UP308 • Found Jun 1, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–39 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 71%223 lb vs 170–180 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — Las Vegas, Nevada
UP275 • Found Jun 12, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 84%6'2" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 97%150 lb vs 170–180 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
80%Moderate
John Doe — Laughlin, Nevada
UP281 • Found Dec 5, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 82%76 mi away, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%170 lb vs 170–180 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
78%Possible
John Doe — Las Vegas, Nevada - unidentified case UP50658
John Doe — Las Vegas, Nevada
UP50658 • Found Mar 29, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 68–82 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 32 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 86%210 lb vs 170–180 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Black
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
78%Possible
John Doe — Mohave County, Arizona
UP85991 • Found Aug 31, 1986
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 38
Race 100%White
Location 75%102 mi away
TimingFound 7 months after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 97%200 lb vs 170–180 lb
Hair 10%Blond vs Black
78%Possible
John Doe — Las Vegas, Nevada
UP397 • Found Apr 3, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–40 vs 38 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%18 mi away, same county
TimingFound 21 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"

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.