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John Harris Missing Person Case

Last seen in Ypsilanti, Michigan on Sep 12, 1973

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Victim Details

Sep 19, 2013

Jan 12, 2024

John

Harris

84

31

75 inches

184 lbs

Black / African American

Male

Sep 12, 1973

Ypsilanti

Michigan

Washtenaw County

14202

Michigan State Police - Brighton Post

Brighton

Michigan

Livingston County

48114

4337 Buno Road, Michigan

8102271051

State

Law Enforcement

www.michigan.gov/msp

26-2561-76

Feb 25, 1994

Michigan State Police - Brighton Post

Black

Brown

Brown

Oct 18, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP21861) and 1 other source
In the late summer of 1973, a 31-year-old man named John Davis Harris vanished from Ypsilanti, Michigan. He was last seen on or around September 12 of that year. At the time he went missing, Harris was described as a Black male, standing at a height of six feet three inches and weighing approximately 184 pounds. Distinctive physical characteristics included several missing fingers on his right hand; specifically, his thumb, index, and middle fingers had been amputated. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance were concerning, as he had escaped from a mental health facility. This fact led authorities to consider him potentially dangerous at the time he went missing.

The investigation into Harris's disappearance was handled by the Michigan State Police. Over the years, he has also been known by the aliases Chester Russell and Jack Griffin, adding layers of complexity to the search. Despite being listed in national missing persons databases, such as NamUs, there has been very little development in his case. Information regarding the events that led to his escape from the mental health facility is scarce. The passage of time has further complicated efforts to uncover new leads or information that could shed light on his whereabouts or what became of him after he disappeared.

Decades have now passed since John Davis Harris was last seen, and his case has grown cold. The lack of significant breakthroughs has left his fate unknown and many questions unanswered. The initial report to the Michigan State Police was filed years after his disappearance, further obscuring the timeline of events. The case remains an open and unsolved mystery, a quiet but persistent question mark in the files of Michigan's missing persons.
Last Seen: Sep 12, 1973

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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  • Ypsilanti Gleanings - Ypsi Historical Society

    • 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 — Ecorse, Michigan
    UP11884 • Found Aug 29, 1990
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 30–31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 96%24 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 17 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'4" vs 6'3"
    Weight 82%149 lb vs 184 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
    UP12030 • Found May 14, 1983
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 30–31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 95%30 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'3" vs 6'3"
    Weight 75%225 lb vs 184 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Ecorse, Michigan
    UP11880 • Found Jun 17, 1990
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 30–31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 96%24 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 17 years after last seen
    Height 52%5'11" vs 6'3"
    Weight 92%210 lb vs 184 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
    UP56119 • Found Aug 12, 1996
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 30–31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 95%30 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 23 years after last seen
    Height 52%5'11" vs 6'3"
    Weight 100%175 lb vs 184 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
    UP11872 • Found Jan 10, 1992
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 30–31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 95%30 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 18 years after last seen
    Height 84%6'1" vs 6'3"
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP12055
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
    UP12055 • Found Jul 12, 1974
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 30–31
    Race 100%Black
    Location 95%30 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 10 months after last seen
    Height 4%5'8" vs 6'3"
    Weight 87%154 lb vs 184 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP75179
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
    UP75179 • Found Jul 14, 2020
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 45–70 vs 30–31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 96%25 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 47 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'3" vs 6'3"
    Weight 87%214 lb vs 184 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP9909
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
    UP9909 • Found Feb 12, 2002
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 24–39 vs 30–31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 95%30 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 28 years after last seen
    Height 36%5'10" vs 6'3"
    Weight 100%192 lb vs 184 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
    UP8217 • Found Jun 17, 1990
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 30–31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 95%30 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 17 years after last seen
    Height 36%5'10" vs 6'3"
    Weight 86%215 lb vs 184 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP9884
    John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
    UP9884 • Found Sep 10, 1986
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 30–31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 95%30 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 13 years after last seen
    Height 36%5'10" vs 6'3"
    Weight 81%220 lb vs 184 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.

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    Forum Posts (3)

    Does anyone have more details about the mental health facility John Davis Harris was last seen at in... ...Read More
    08/15/2024
    Does anyone else think it's odd that John Davis Harris had those aliases, Chester Russell and Jack... ...Read More
    01/11/2024
    Did anyone else dig into the aliases that John Davis Harris used? Chester Russell and Jack Griffin... ...Read More
    01/15/2023

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