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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 (MP25537) and 2 other sources
In the winter of 1983, a family in Portland, Oregon, began to worry about Roland Dean Anderson, a 30-year-old man known to his loved ones as 'Deannie' or 'Dean'. He was last seen on December 16th of that year, and as the days turned into weeks with no word, his relatives took the step of officially reporting him as a missing person. At the time of his disappearance, Roland was unemployed. The circumstances surrounding his life at that point were complex, as it was alleged he was a drug user and might have been involved in some level of criminal activity.

The silence that followed Roland's disappearance was heavy and unnerving for his family. Their fears were amplified approximately three months later when his ex-wife received a disturbing and anonymous phone call. A woman's voice on the other end of the line delivered a chilling message: Roland had been killed. This grim news was echoed in a similar anonymous phone call received by Roland's mother. These messages, though unsubstantiated, solidified the family's belief that they would not be seeing Roland again and that he had met a tragic end.

Despite the passage of many years, the case of Roland Dean Anderson remains officially unsolved, a cold case lingering in the files of the Portland Police Bureau. His body has never been found, leaving his family without the closure of a proper farewell. Investigators believe that there are individuals within the community who hold information, whether direct or indirect, that could finally shed light on what happened to him. The official narrative of his disappearance points to the reports from his family, but the ominous phone calls received by his ex-wife and mother suggest a darker, more violent conclusion to his story. The lack of physical evidence and the anonymity of the callers have left this case in a state of prolonged uncertainty, a painful open chapter for a family still waiting for answers.

Last Seen: Dec 16, 1983

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (4)

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.

82%Moderate
John Doe — Portland, Oregon - unidentified case UP10582
John Doe — Portland, Oregon
UP10582 • Found Apr 25, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 84%5'9" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%170 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
80%Moderate
John Doe — Portland, Oregon - unidentified case UP11900
John Doe — Portland, Oregon
UP11900 • Found Oct 6, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 30 when missing
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%165 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Portland, Oregon - unidentified case UP9937
John Doe — Portland, Oregon
UP9937 • Found May 4, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 36%6'0" vs 5'7"
Weight 83%190 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Seattle, Washington
UP10790 • Found May 12, 1984
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 30
Race 100%Black
Location 66%145 mi away
TimingFound 5 months after last seen
Height 36%6'0" vs 5'7"
Weight 93%138 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
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.