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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 (MP24846) and 1 other source
In the autumn of 1983, a troubling mystery began to unfold in Lorain, Ohio, centered on the disappearance of 51-year-old Carl James Wing. On October 24th, concern grew when Wing could not be located, and the circumstances surrounding his last known whereabouts painted a grim picture. His boat was discovered abandoned on the waters of Lake Erie, a vast and often unpredictable body of water. The empty vessel offered no immediate clues as to what may have happened to its owner, leaving family and authorities with a profound sense of uncertainty and the start of a long and painful search for answers.

At the time he went missing, Carl was described as a 51-year-old white male, standing approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing around 160 pounds. He had graying hair and blue eyes, and a distinguishing scar on his right ankle. The investigation into his disappearance was launched by the Lorain Police Department, who were faced with the daunting task of piecing together the events that led to the empty boat on the lake. With no witnesses and scant evidence, the case quickly grew cold, leaving a void in the lives of those who knew him.

Decades have passed since Carl James Wing was last seen, and his case remains an open and unresolved wound for his loved ones and the community. The lack of closure has been a heavy burden, with the unending question of his fate hanging in the air. The discovery of his abandoned boat on Lake Erie is the last known piece of a puzzle that has yet to be solved. The investigation, though inactive for periods, remains a testament to a life interrupted and the enduring hope that one day, answers will surface from the depths of the unknown, providing some measure of peace to those he left behind. The overview of this case highlights the sudden and unexplained nature of his disappearance, the limited information available to investigators, and the lingering questions that have persisted for over four decades.

Last Seen: Oct 24, 1983

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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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 — Cleveland, Ohio
UP1875 • Found May 23, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%25 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 91%137 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
80%Moderate
John Doe — Madison, Ohio
UP4759 • Found Apr 9, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 86%63 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%161 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
79%Possible
John Doe — Wyandotte, Michigan
UP8220 • Found Jun 15, 1987
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 42–62 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 83%72 mi away
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 95%180 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
78%Possible
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio - unidentified case UP15655
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio
UP15655 • Found Dec 15, 1986
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%25 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 52%5'6" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%164 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
77%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP81207 • Found Nov 19, 1985
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 82%77 mi away
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 52%5'6" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%148 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
77%Possible
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio
UP15637 • Found Jun 1, 1985
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 60%Est. 60–70 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%23 mi away, same state
TimingFound 19 months after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
77%Possible
John Doe — Illinois - unidentified case UP14290
John Doe — Illinois
UP14290 • Found Nov 20, 1984
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 49–54 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 46%286 mi away
TimingFound 13 months after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%170 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
76%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP115564
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP115564 • Found Jan 26, 2024
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 82%75 mi away
TimingFound 40 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 91%137 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
76%Possible
John Doe — Wellsburg, West Virginia
UP14235 • Found Apr 2, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 72%116 mi away
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%165 lb vs 160 lb
76%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP11695 • Found Dec 4, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 70–85 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 82%75 mi away
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%161 lb vs 160 lb

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.