Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
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 (MP20138) and 7 other sources
In the summer of 1984, a young man named William 'Billy' Pasquale Riley vanished from his home in Evanston, Illinois. At 22 years old, Billy was last seen at his residence on what is believed to have been a quiet Sunday, June 17th. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are unsettling in their simplicity; he seemingly walked away from his life, leaving behind all of his personal belongings and his vehicle. Since that day, there has been no communication from him, no sightings, and no indication of what might have led to his sudden departure. His family and friends were left with a void of information and the lingering pain of not knowing what became of him. The initial report was filed with the Evanston Police Department, and the case was later handled by the Cook County Sheriff's Office, but the passage of time has not yielded any significant breakthroughs.

The investigation into Billy's disappearance has been hampered by a lack of evidence and leads. He was a white male, stood at 6 feet tall, and weighed approximately 175 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Two distinctive physical characteristics were noted: a small gap between his two front teeth and the fact that he was completely deaf. The absence of any information about the clothing he was wearing at the time of his disappearance further complicates the efforts to identify him. Over the years, investigators have had very little to go on, and the case has grown cold. The mystery of his whereabouts remains as profound today as it was in 1984, leaving a family to wonder about the fate of their loved one.

The silence in Billy's case has been profound, with decades passing without any resolution. The few details that are known paint a frustratingly incomplete picture of a young man who one day simply ceased to be a part of the world he knew. The fact that he left everything behind suggests his departure was not planned, or at least not in a conventional sense. The overview of this case is one of enduring mystery and the quiet heartbreak of a family left without answers. Despite the passage of time, the hope for a resolution, for some piece of information that could shed light on what happened to William 'Billy' Riley, persists. His case serves as a somber reminder of the many individuals who disappear without a trace, leaving behind a legacy of unanswered questions and the enduring pain of not knowing.

Last Seen: Jun 17, 1984

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 — Indiana - unidentified case UP4851
John Doe — Indiana
UP4851 • Found Jun 9, 1985
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 22
Race 100%White
Location 82%75 mi away
TimingFound 12 months after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP129118 • Found Apr 1, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%14 mi away, same county
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%179 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP8357 • Found Oct 8, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 22 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP139126 • Found Jun 8, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 22 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1" vs 6'0"
Weight 91%150 lb vs 175 lb
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP53660
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP53660 • Found Oct 22, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away, same county
TimingFound 34 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 88%203 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP129255
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP129255 • Found Sep 3, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–25 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%14 mi away, same county
TimingFound 18 years after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP128966 • Found Sep 29, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 96%196 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP128954
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP128954 • Found Sep 28, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–35 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 52%5'8" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%168 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Illinois - unidentified case UP14344
John Doe — Illinois
UP14344 • Found Mar 16, 1986
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away, same county
TimingFound 21 months after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 80%140 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Blue vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP11512
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP11512 • Found May 2, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away, same county
TimingFound 29 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 90%149 lb vs 175 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.