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Richard Yerex Missing Person Case

Last seen in West Palm Beach, Florida on May 27, 1987

Victim Details

Mar 1, 2013

Jul 18, 2024

Richard

Yerex

95

56

70 inches

170 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

May 27, 1987

West Palm Beach

Florida

Palm Beach County

33406

13177

Palm Beach Conty Sheriff's Office

West Palm Beach

Florida

,

87-94048

May 27, 1987

Palm Beach Conty Sheriff's Office

Gray or Partially Gray

Blue

Blue

Oct 15, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP19481) and 4 other sources
Richard Roy Yerex, a 56-year-old retired pilot, went missing on May 27, 1987, during a routine flight from Palm Beach International Airport to Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas. After a distinguished career as a captain in Ford Motor Company's air fleet, Yerex had retired to North Palm Beach, where he continued flying commuter planes to and from the Bahamas. On the day of his disappearance, he piloted a Cessna 402, a nine-passenger twin-engine plane, departing at 8:05 a.m. from West Palm Beach, intending to pick up tourists in Marsh Harbor and return on a 50-minute flight.

Yerex's last communication occurred near Grand Bahama Island, where he mentioned sighting a weather balloon. However, he never reached his destination, and a search by the U.S. Coast Guard commenced 25 minutes after he failed to arrive. Despite a thorough, multi-day search involving Coast Guard and Air Force aircraft, no trace of Yerex or his plane was ever found. It is speculated that, without life rafts or preservers aboard, the plane might have sunk without a trace in the ocean.

Yerex, an experienced pilot with 35 years of flying under his belt, had a long career that included service during the Korean War and extensive time flying for Ford. His sudden and unexplained disappearance left his family, including his eight children, without answers. Despite the extensive search efforts and Yerex’s flying expertise, his case remains unsolved to this day.
Last Seen: May 27, 1987

Links to Additional Sources (4)

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  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP19481
  • 4153DMFL - Richard Yerex - Doe Network
  • Cessna 402C N2652B - The Quester Files
  • Missing Persons, from NAMPN 1987 to 1989 - Poli-con-deaths

    • 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.

    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Miami, Florida - unidentified case UP5689
    John Doe — Miami, Florida
    UP5689 • Found May 3, 2000
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 56 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%62 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 13 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%165 lb vs 170 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Miami, Florida - unidentified case UP5675
    John Doe — Miami, Florida
    UP5675 • Found Jul 31, 1998
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 55–69 vs 56 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%62 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
    Weight 59%121 lb vs 170 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Miami, Florida - unidentified case UP5330
    John Doe — Miami, Florida
    UP5330 • Found Dec 13, 1993
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 60–80 vs 56 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%62 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%186 lb vs 170 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Miami, Florida - unidentified case UP1158
    John Doe — Miami, Florida
    UP1158 • Found Jul 24, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 46–60 vs 56 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%62 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%167 lb vs 170 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Boynton Beach, Florida - unidentified case UP1119
    John Doe — Boynton Beach, Florida
    UP1119 • Found Oct 5, 1995
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 46–60 vs 56 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%9 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 84%6'0" vs 5'10"
    Hair 40%Brown vs Gray
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Miami, Florida - unidentified case UP1187
    John Doe — Miami, Florida
    UP1187 • Found Apr 22, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 56 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%62 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 23 months after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%183 lb vs 170 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Florida
    UP1207 • Found Mar 24, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 46–60 vs 56
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%36 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 10 months after last seen
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Miami, Florida - unidentified case UP6750
    John Doe — Miami, Florida
    UP6750 • Found Aug 8, 2008
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 48–58 vs 56 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%62 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 21 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%174 lb vs 170 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    76%Possible
    John Doe — West Palm Beach, Florida
    UP1081 • Found Jul 23, 1999
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 46–60 vs 56 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%5 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Miami Beach, Florida - unidentified case UP1123
    John Doe — Miami Beach, Florida
    UP1123 • Found Apr 14, 1995
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 46–70 vs 56 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%60 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
    Weight 73%210 lb vs 170 lb
    Hair 40%Brown vs Gray
    Eyes 70%Gray vs Blue

    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.

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    Forum Posts (2)

    I was digging into the case of Richard Roy Yerex, the missing pilot from '87, and something jumped... ...Read More
    12/22/2023
    I was reading about Richard Roy Yerex's disappearance, and I find the whole weather balloon mention... ...Read More
    09/04/2023

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