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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 (MP14764) and 8 other sources
On a summer evening in Detroit, Michigan, 50-year-old Randall Glynn Childs disappeared without a trace. The date was June 7, 2011, and Childs was last seen at the Roberts III Apartments, located at 3901 Grand River Avenue near Rosa Parks Boulevard. He was with his girlfriend, Karen Young, at his sixth-floor apartment, where they had been with his roommate and some friends. Reports indicate that Childs and Young had an argument, after which Young called her daughter for a ride. At approximately 11:30 p.m., Childs escorted Young from his apartment to ensure she safely met her ride downstairs. This was the last time anyone reported seeing either Randall Childs or Karen Young. At the time of his disappearance, Childs was described as a Black male, standing at 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing around 140 pounds. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, blue jeans, and white gym shoes.

The circumstances surrounding the couple's disappearance are deeply troubling for their families. Childs, a father of four, was known to be very close with his family, and they insist he would not have voluntarily disappeared for such an extended period without any contact. He was a graduate of Northern High School in Detroit, where he had been a member of the baseball team and the choir. His love for singing and writing poetry was a notable part of his personality. At the time he went missing, he was employed as a cook at Pasquales in Royal Oak and also worked as a handyman in his neighborhood. The fact that both he and Young left all their personal belongings behind, including his toiletries and her purse, suggests they did not plan to leave. This has led their loved ones to believe that something unfortunate must have happened to them.

The years since their disappearance have been filled with anguish and a relentless search for answers by their families. Childs' sister, Sharon Murray, has been particularly vocal about the pain of not knowing what happened to her brother. The family has undertaken extensive efforts, including searching hospitals and morgues, in their desperate attempt to find him. The investigation into the double disappearance has been fraught with difficulties, yielding no significant leads for a long time. In a strange development, Childs' sister received a six-page letter from a prison inmate, which she turned over to the Detroit Police for investigation. The contents of the letter and its potential connection to the case remain a focus for the authorities. The disappearance of Randall Childs and Karen Young is a perplexing case that has left a void in the lives of their families. With no clear evidence or witnesses to what transpired after they left the apartment building, their fate remains unknown. The families continue to hold out hope for closure, pleading with the public for any information that might finally shed light on this long-standing mystery.

Last Seen: Jun 7, 2011

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 — Detroit, Michigan
UP11139 • Found Jun 13, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%6 mi away, same county
TimingFound 12 months after last seen
Height 68%5'6" vs 5'9"
Weight 94%169 lb vs 140–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
83%Moderate
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP10405 • Found Nov 4, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 50
Race 100%Black
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'9"
82%Moderate
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP9963
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP9963 • Found Feb 17, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 50
Race 100%Black
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 8 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'9"
Weight 92%120 lb vs 140–150 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP14804
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP14804 • Found Jan 22, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'9"
Weight 92%170 lb vs 140–150 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
79%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP10391
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP10391 • Found May 26, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 50
Race 100%Black
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 12 months after last seen
Weight 98%124 lb vs 140–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
78%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP61455 • Found Nov 1, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%6 mi away, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9"–6'2" vs 5'9"
78%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP53194
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP53194 • Found Oct 26, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 28–53 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6"–6'0" vs 5'9"
78%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP17123 • Found Sep 22, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–70 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%6 mi away, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8"–6'2" vs 5'9"
78%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP15959
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP15959 • Found Sep 21, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 68%5'6" vs 5'9"
Weight 92%120 lb vs 140–150 lb
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
78%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP12768 • Found Feb 12, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Weight 0%65 lb vs 140–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black

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.