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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 (MP26122) and 1 other source
In the quiet community of Benton, Tennessee, a story of profound and enduring loss began to unfold in the autumn of 1983. It was on November 6th of that year that 29-year-old Lloyd Edward Howell was last seen. A man in the prime of his life, his sudden disappearance left a void in the lives of those who knew him and a question mark that has lingered for decades. Howell was a white male with red or auburn hair and green eyes. He stood approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighed around 150 pounds. His distinguishing marks included scars on his lip, calf, and another on his leg. The circumstances surrounding the day he vanished remain largely unknown, leaving a painful absence of closure for his family and community.

The Polk County Sheriff's Department opened an investigation into Lloyd's disappearance, but the passage of time has not yielded the answers so desperately sought. His case is cataloged in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System under case number MP26122. Despite the official record and the efforts of law enforcement, details about what might have happened to him are scarce. The lack of information about his last known activities or any potential reasons for his disappearance has made the investigation incredibly challenging, turning his story into one of the many enduring mysteries that haunt the state of Tennessee.

Decades have passed since Lloyd Howell was last seen, and his case has grown cold, yet the hope for resolution, however faint, persists. The investigation, led by the Polk County Sheriff's Department, remains open, a silent testament to a life interrupted and a family left in limbo. The absence of concrete leads has left a narrative with no clear direction, just an unsettling and open-ended question. The overview of this case is one of sudden and unexplained absence, a man who, for all intents and purposes, vanished, leaving behind only memories and the lingering pain of not knowing. His disappearance is a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the deep, lasting impact of a person's absence on their loved ones and community.

Last Seen: Nov 6, 1983

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (7)

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.

80%Moderate
John Doe — Georgia
UP152052 • Found May 7, 1988
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%63 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10"–6'0" vs 5'11"
Weight 93%170–180 lb vs 150 lb
79%Possible
John Doe — Juno, Georgia
UP4699 • Found Dec 11, 1987
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 24–29 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 88%55 mi away
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%6'1" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Red
78%Possible
John Doe — Birchwood, Tennessee - unidentified case UP8189
John Doe — Birchwood, Tennessee
UP8189 • Found Aug 28, 2006
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%23 mi away, same state
TimingFound 23 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Weight 65%190 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Red
78%Possible
John Doe — Knoxville, Tennessee
UP1574 • Found Sep 21, 1985
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 27–34 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 84%68 mi away, same state
TimingFound 23 months after last seen
Height 84%5'9" vs 5'11"
77%Possible
John Doe — Ellijay, Georgia - unidentified case UP4703
John Doe — Ellijay, Georgia
UP4703 • Found Aug 9, 1986
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 31–51 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%35 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 68%5'8" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Red
77%Possible
John Doe — Tennessee
UP1572 • Found Jan 5, 1986
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 90%46 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Hair 100%Red vs Red
Eyes 50%Blue vs Green
75%Possible
John Doe — Chattanooga, Tennessee - unidentified case UP10171
John Doe — Chattanooga, Tennessee
UP10171 • Found Jul 1, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–35 vs 29 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 92%40 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 68%5'8" vs 5'11"
Hair 50%Brown vs Red

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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