Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
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 (MP19619) and 4 other sources
In the quiet community of Salem, New Jersey, a family was forever changed by a disappearance that left more questions than answers. On February 9, 2013, 53-year-old Benjamin Ferguson III was seen for the last time. Known affectionately by his nicknames Benny and Bird Dog, he was a man with distinct features, including a tattoo of a skull and dagger on his arm and a beard at the time he went missing. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches and weighing around 220 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, his physical presence was well-defined, yet the details surrounding his last known moments remain frustratingly obscure. His disappearance prompted his family to take action, and by March 5, 2013, a formal report was filed with the Lower Alloways Creek Police Department, officially beginning the search for the missing man.

As days turned into weeks and weeks into years, the investigation into Benjamin Ferguson's whereabouts continued, though with very little information being released to the public. The official case was opened, and his information was entered into national databases for missing persons, a standard but crucial step in hopes of generating leads. Law enforcement, including the New Jersey State Police, has maintained his case file, keeping him listed as a missing person. For those who know and love him, the passage of time has not diminished their hope for answers or a resolution. The silence since his disappearance has been a heavy burden, a void filled only with uncertainty and the persistent question of what could have happened to him on that winter day.

The case of Benjamin Ferguson III is one marked by a profound lack of available details. He vanished from Salem, and since that day, there has been no contact, no sightings, and no evidence to explain his sudden absence. His family and law enforcement are left with only the basic facts: his description, his last known location, and the date he was last seen. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance have not been publicly detailed, leaving a narrative with a beginning but no middle and no end. This enduring mystery underscores the painful reality for many families of the missing, who are left to navigate a world of ambiguity, holding on to hope while grappling with the absence of a loved one. The overview of this case is one of a man who seemingly disappeared without a trace, leaving a community and a family waiting for any piece of information that might bring him home.

Last Seen: Feb 9, 2013

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.

79%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP12984 • Found Sep 10, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–60 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%31 mi away
TimingFound 19 months after last seen
Height 68%6'1" vs 5'10"
Weight 92%189 lb vs 220 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - unidentified case UP151698
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP151698 • Found Oct 13, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%34 mi away
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6"–5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 57%150–155 lb vs 220 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - unidentified case UP111096
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP111096 • Found Oct 26, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%31 mi away
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 28%132 lb vs 220 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP101001 • Found Feb 28, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%34 mi away
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5"–5'11" vs 5'10"
77%Possible
John Doe — Trenton, New Jersey
UP64638 • Found Sep 4, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 87%59 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4"–5'10" vs 5'10"
Hair 40%Gray vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP17665 • Found Oct 27, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%37 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5"–5'10" vs 5'10"
77%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP55994 • Found Sep 22, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 74%Est. 30–50 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%35 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6"–5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 84%160–180 lb vs 220 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Pennsylvania
UP13638 • Found Oct 19, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 53
Race 100%White
Location 87%59 mi away
TimingFound 8 months after last seen
Height 68%6'1" vs 5'10"
76%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP70353 • Found May 7, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 75%Est. 35–50 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%30 mi away
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 71%166 lb vs 220 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP50249
John Doe — New York, New York
UP50249 • Found Apr 24, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 73%110 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 81%177 lb vs 220 lb
Hair 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.