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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 (MP21994) and 1 other source
On May 18, 1981, a 49-year-old man named Daniel H. Deaner vanished from Central Islip, New York. That day, he had been released from the Central Islip Hospital, and was never seen or heard from again. At the time of his disappearance, Daniel was described as a Caucasian male, standing at 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing approximately 170 pounds. He had brown hair and blue eyes, with a noticeable scar on his upper lip. The circumstances leading to his presence at the hospital and the details of his release remain largely undisclosed to the public, adding a layer of mystery to the events of that spring day.

The investigation into Daniel's disappearance was handled by the Suffolk County Police Department. Despite their efforts, the case quickly grew cold, with a lack of significant leads or any clear indication of what might have happened to him after he left the hospital grounds. Information about his life, his relationships, and his state of mind at the time of his disappearance is not widely available, leaving a void for those trying to piece together the puzzle of his last known moments. The absence of witnesses and forensic evidence has presented a significant challenge to investigators over the years.

Decades have passed since Daniel Deaner was last seen, and his case remains an unresolved mystery. With no new information emerging, the trail has grown cold, leaving his family and community without answers. The Suffolk County Police Department still lists his case as open, a silent testament to a life interrupted and a story without a conclusion. The passage of time has not diminished the hope for a breakthrough that might finally shed light on what became of Daniel after he walked away from the hospital so many years ago. The case serves as a somber reminder of the many individuals who disappear each year, leaving behind questions that may never be answered.

Last Seen: May 18, 1981

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.

82%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP9173
John Doe — New York, New York
UP9173 • Found Apr 11, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 91%42 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
Weight 91%145 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
82%Moderate
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP1435 • Found May 4, 1984
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 89%51 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
Weight 85%140 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP7354
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP7354 • Found Dec 25, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%35 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
Weight 91%145 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP5800
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP5800 • Found Dec 5, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%31 mi away, same state
TimingFound 22 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'4"
Weight 100%169 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP6997
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP6997 • Found Apr 20, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–70 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%35 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
Weight 99%188 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 50%Blond vs Brown
Eyes 70%Gray vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP7010
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP7010 • Found Feb 16, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 92%41 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'4"
Weight 100%167 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7785
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7785 • Found Apr 8, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 65–80 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 91%42 mi away, same state
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'4"
Weight 96%150 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP8029
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP8029 • Found Mar 16, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%31 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'4"
Weight 66%125 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP8149
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP8149 • Found Dec 20, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 92%40 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 84%5'2" vs 5'4"
Weight 93%147 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Atlantic City, New Jersey - unidentified case UP5186
John Doe — Atlantic City, New Jersey
UP5186 • Found Dec 23, 1983
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 49 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 71%118 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
Weight 91%145 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue 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.