Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 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 (MP17389) and 7 other sources
In the winter of 1977, the life of Robert Afarian, a 45-year-old man from Edgewater, New Jersey, took a turn into the unknown. He was last seen on or about February 7th of that year. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain shrouded in mystery, leaving behind a cold case that has puzzled investigators and his family for decades. The most significant clue in the immediate aftermath of his disappearance was the discovery of his car, a 1974 silver BMW 2002 Series coupe, abandoned in a parking lot at Kennedy Airport. This discovery offered no immediate answers, only deepening the questions about where Robert might have gone and what events led him to leave his vehicle behind.

Robert Afarian was a man with distinct physical characteristics. He stood between 5'6' and 5'7' tall and weighed approximately 150 to 160 pounds. He had a full head of thick, black hair and brown eyes. A notable feature was an unusual depression on the tip of his nose, believed to be the result of a medical condition. He also had a tattoo of a religious symbol on one of his forearms, though the specific arm is not known. At the time he went missing, it was noted that he had extensive body hair and thick facial hair, but no beard. Despite these details, no confirmed sightings of Robert have been reported since his disappearance. The investigation into his whereabouts has been handled by the Edgewater Police Department, but the passage of time has not yielded any significant breakthroughs.

Over the years, the investigation into Robert Afarian's disappearance has remained open, though leads have been scarce. There has been speculation that he may have been experiencing depression, possibly linked to health issues, at the time he went missing. Though he has been legally declared deceased, his body has never been found, leaving his family without closure. In a poignant gesture of hope and remembrance, his family has established a burial plot for him, a place to honor his memory should his remains ever be located. The case of Robert Afarian is a somber reminder of the enduring pain and uncertainty that surrounds unsolved missing person cases. It represents a life interrupted, a story without a final chapter, and a family left to grapple with unanswered questions. The hope remains that one day, new information will come to light, finally providing answers in the long and silent mystery of what happened to Robert Afarian.

Last Seen: Feb 7, 1977

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.

86%Strong
John Doe — Hastings-on-Hudson, New York - unidentified case UP80274
John Doe — Hastings-on-Hudson, New York
UP80274 • Found Apr 23, 1978
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%13 mi away
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'6"–5'7"
Weight 100%154 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP7614
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP7614 • Found Oct 14, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%6 mi away
TimingFound 18 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'6"–5'7"
Weight 100%170 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7784
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7784 • Found Apr 6, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%8 mi away
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'6"–5'7"
Weight 100%135 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP8499
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP8499 • Found Jul 23, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%6 mi away
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"–5'7"
Weight 88%125 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — Teaneck, New Jersey - unidentified case UP1615
John Doe — Teaneck, New Jersey
UP1615 • Found Nov 15, 1978
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 21 months after last seen
Height 68%5'3" vs 5'6"–5'7"
Weight 84%122 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5762
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5762 • Found Feb 13, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"–5'7"
Weight 99%176 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6156
John Doe — New York, New York
UP6156 • Found Jan 23, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away
TimingFound 21 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'6"–5'7"
Weight 100%155 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7507
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7507 • Found Nov 8, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"–5'7"
Weight 100%170 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7500
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7500 • Found Sep 25, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'6"–5'7"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP7398
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP7398 • Found Jul 20, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"–5'7"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150–160 lb
Hair 60%Brown 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.

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