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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 (MP19967) and 2 other sources
On a late winter day, March 16, 2009, a 31-year-old man named Erman Oztopaloglu disappeared from the community of Cliffside Park, New Jersey. That day marked the last time anyone would report seeing him, launching a long and painful period of uncertainty for those who know and love him. Erman, a White/Caucasian male, was a person with established routines and connections in his local area. His sudden absence left a void and a series of unanswered questions that have stretched on for many years. The day he was last seen, he was wearing a white hooded sweatshirt and blue jeans, a simple outfit that offers one of the last visual records of his presence.

Erman was described as being 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing approximately 185 pounds at the time he went missing. His life seemed to have a familiar rhythm, as he was known to often visit specific areas. These places included the southeastern part of Bergen County, the nearby township of North Bergen, New Jersey, and the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. These locations, familiar to Erman, became central to the search in the days and weeks following his disappearance. Investigators and family members hoped that someone in these frequented areas might hold a piece of information, a final sighting or interaction, that could shed light on what happened to him.

The investigation into Erman's disappearance is being handled by the Cliffside Park Police Department. Despite the passage of time, his case remains open, a lingering source of pain and questions for his family and friends. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are still unclear, leaving a painful void of information. This lack of resolution is a heavy burden for any family to carry, as they are left to wonder what happened to their loved one. The case of Erman Oztopaloglu is a somber reminder of the many individuals who vanish, leaving behind a legacy of unanswered questions and an enduring hope for discovery and peace.

Last Seen: Mar 16, 2009

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.

85%Strong
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP8825
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP8825 • Found Mar 16, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 88%Est. 18–30 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away
TimingFound 24 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%168 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP9178
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP9178 • Found Jul 1, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 52%5'7" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%198 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — New Jersey
UP8722 • Found Apr 21, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 31–51 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 84%6'1" vs 5'11"
Weight 77%225 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Uniondale, New York
UP9130 • Found Mar 28, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–46 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%22 mi away
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 68%5'8" vs 5'11"
Weight 79%147 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Flushing, New York - unidentified case UP5593
John Doe — Flushing, New York
UP5593 • Found May 31, 2009
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 31
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away
TimingFound 3 months after last seen
Height 4%5'4" vs 5'11"
Weight 93%210 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP115204
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP115204 • Found Dec 26, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 36%5'6" vs 5'11"
Weight 79%147 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP70353 • Found May 7, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 79%87 mi away
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 68%5'8" vs 5'11"
Weight 99%166 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%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 69%Est. 45–65 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%8 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%177 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
77%Possible
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP16717
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP16717 • Found May 11, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 20%5'5" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%171 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP16540
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP16540 • Found Mar 11, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 36%5'6" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%182 lb vs 185 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.