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 (MP17687) and 4 other sources
In the late spring of 2004, a profound sense of unease began to settle over a Philadelphia family. Roosevelt Copes, a 69-year-old man, was last seen on June 18th of that year. On that Friday, he departed from his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, behind the wheel of his white 1994 Lincoln sedan. His destination was his mother's house, a visit that was anticipated and routine. However, Mr. Copes never reached her doorstep, and the silence that followed his departure marked the beginning of a long and painful period of uncertainty for his loved ones.

The initial hours of his absence may have been filled with a low hum of worry, which likely grew into a crescendo of fear as the day turned into night and then into another day with no word. The search for answers eventually led investigators to a crucial piece of information, a single, jarring event that stood as the last known trace of his journey. It was established that Mr. Copes had been involved in a vehicular accident in Dumfries, Virginia. This discovery, while providing a geographic marker, offered no resolution. The details surrounding the accident are scarce, and the exact date it occurred remains unclear. What happened to him after the crash is a question that has remained unanswered for years.

The investigation into the disappearance of Roosevelt Copes has been a frustrating one, marked by a lack of significant leads beyond the Virginia accident. Few details about the circumstances of his disappearance have been made public, leaving his family and community to grapple with a void of information. Despite the passage of time, his case remains open. The narrative of his disappearance is a poignant one, beginning with a simple plan to visit his mother and ending in a mysterious accident far from home. This single event is the last confirmed indication of his whereabouts, a final, enigmatic clue in a case that continues to endure. The absence of further information has left those who knew him in a prolonged state of limbo, holding onto hope while facing the stark reality of a mystery that has yet to be solved.

Last Seen: Jun 18, 2004

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 — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP5535
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP5535 • Found Feb 16, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 69 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 78%90 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'0"–6'0"
Weight 100%157 lb vs 120–200 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP1752 • Found Jan 26, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 64–70 vs 69 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 82%74 mi away
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'0"–6'0"
Weight 100%145 lb vs 120–200 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5569
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5569 • Found Dec 18, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 69 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 79%85 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'0"–6'0"
Weight 100%166 lb vs 120–200 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5635
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5635 • Found Oct 15, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 69 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 81%81 mi away
TimingFound 16 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'0"–6'0"
Weight 100%148 lb vs 120–200 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP77552
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP77552 • Found Jan 9, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–70 vs 69 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 80%81 mi away
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'0"–6'0"
Weight 100%186 lb vs 120–200 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Newark,, New Jersey
UP558 • Found Jul 16, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 69 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 82%75 mi away
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'0"–6'0"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 120–200 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
80%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP2814
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP2814 • Found Dec 21, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 69
Race 100%Black
Location 80%82 mi away
TimingFound 6 months after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'0"–6'0"
Weight 100%164 lb vs 120–200 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP100480
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP100480 • Found Feb 7, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–70 vs 69 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 81%78 mi away
TimingFound 19 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'0"–6'0"
Weight 98%102 lb vs 120–200 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP86788
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP86788 • Found Nov 22, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–75 vs 69 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 80%84 mi away
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'0"–6'0"
Weight 100%143 lb vs 120–200 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP71012
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP71012 • Found Apr 10, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–70 vs 69 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 78%90 mi away
TimingFound 16 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'0"–6'0"
Weight 100%166 lb vs 120–200 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.