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Jeffrey Petritz Missing Person Case

Last seen in Mesa, Arizona on Jul 18, 1985

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Victim Details

Aug 28, 2012

Oct 26, 2022

Jeffrey

Petritz

64

23

65 inches

67 inches

145 lbs

150 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Jul 18, 1985

Mesa

Arizona

Maricopa County

12238

Mesa Police Department

Mesa

Arizona

Maricopa County

85201

Toni Gonzales

Missing Persons Investigator

130 North Robson, Arizona

4806442211

Local

Law Enforcement

http://www.mesaaz.gov/residents/police

19850064835

Aug 28, 2012

Mesa Police Department

Brown

Blue

Blue

Oct 6, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP17233) and 2 other sources
In the summer of 1985, a young man named Jeffrey 'Jeff' Paul Petritz, aged 23, was preparing for a business trip that would take him from his home in Mesa, Arizona, to Colorado. The date of his last contact was July 18, 1985. He was described as a White/Caucasian male, standing between 5'5' and 5'7' and weighing between 145 and 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

The day after his last contact, July 19, 1985, Jeffrey was scheduled to depart for his business trip. However, he never arrived at his destination, a fact that was later confirmed by his employer. A subsequent check of his apartment in Mesa revealed a telling scene: his suitcase and other personal belongings were still there, suggesting that he had never even left for his trip. This discovery turned a simple failure to arrive into a mysterious disappearance that has now spanned decades.

The circumstances surrounding Jeffrey Petritz's disappearance remain unclear. The Mesa Police Department is the investigating agency for this case. Despite the passage of time, the case remains open, and the lack of any significant leads has left his family and friends without answers. The official NamUs case was created on August 28, 2012, many years after he was last seen. The case of Jeffrey Petritz is a somber reminder of the many individuals who vanish without a trace, leaving behind a void of information and a lifetime of questions for those who knew and loved them.
Last Seen: Jul 18, 1985

Links to Additional Sources (2)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Missing Person / NamUs
  • Missing Person Flyer: Jeffrey Paul Petritz | Mesa, AZ | CaseTrace

    • 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 — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1931
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
    UP1931 • Found Nov 30, 1994
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 15–30 vs 22–23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%15 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'5"–5'7"
    Weight 100%157 lb vs 145–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1971
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
    UP1971 • Found Apr 7, 2001
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 22–23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 98%16 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 16 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'5"–5'7"
    Weight 100%160 lb vs 145–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1949
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
    UP1949 • Found Aug 4, 1997
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 22–23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%14 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"–5'7"
    Weight 100%130 lb vs 145–150 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Arizona
    UP1942 • Found Sep 3, 1996
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 22–23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%36 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'3" vs 5'5"–5'7"
    Weight 100%155 lb vs 145–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Mesa, Arizona - unidentified case UP842
    John Doe — Mesa, Arizona
    UP842 • Found Dec 30, 1992
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 22–23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6" vs 5'5"–5'7"
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Laveen, Arizona - unidentified case UP6601
    John Doe — Laveen, Arizona
    UP6601 • Found Nov 22, 2009
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 22–23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 97%20 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 24 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'5"–5'7"
    Weight 100%142 lb vs 145–150 lb
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Arizona
    UP2057 • Found Aug 21, 2002
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 22–23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%36 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 17 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"–5'7"
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1974
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
    UP1974 • Found Jun 19, 2001
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–22 vs 22–23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 98%19 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 16 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'7" vs 5'5"–5'7"
    Weight 100%130 lb vs 145–150 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1964
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
    UP1964 • Found Oct 26, 1999
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 22–23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 97%21 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 14 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6" vs 5'5"–5'7"
    Weight 82%178 lb vs 145–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Mesa, Arizona - unidentified case UP1947
    John Doe — Mesa, Arizona
    UP1947 • Found Aug 23, 1997
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 22–23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6" vs 5'5"–5'7"
    Weight 100%140 lb vs 145–150 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown 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.

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    Forum Posts (2)

    Has anyone else found the timing around Mr. Petritz’s disappearance weird? It’s like everything was... ...Read More
    11/22/2024
    Has anyone looked into John Petritz's professional connections in Arizona? Since he never made it to... ...Read More
    07/06/2023

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