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 (MP14880) and 6 other sources
Carl Alfred Eder, age 33, disappeared on January 1, 1976, from Napa County, California. His case is particularly notable due to his criminal history. In 1958, at the age of 16, Eder had been taken in by a man named Thomas Pendergast, who offered him shelter. Shortly after, Eder committed a brutal crime, murdering Pendergast's wife and their four children. Eder was convicted and sentenced to life in prison but escaped in 1974 from a minimum-security facility. Despite nationwide searches, Eder remained a fugitive.

Eder was last seen in 1976, and his whereabouts since then have been unknown. He became one of the longest-running fugitives in the U.S., and it is believed he may have evaded capture for decades, with possible sightings reported in the 1980s. His case remains open, and authorities continue to seek information regarding his whereabouts, though no substantial leads have emerged in recent years.
Last Seen: Jan 1, 1976

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.

79%Possible
John Doe — Sausalito, California
UP17718 • Found Sep 9, 1990
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%32 mi away, same state
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"–6'3"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 165–195 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
Eyes 70%Gray vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Berkeley, California - unidentified case UP12992
John Doe — Berkeley, California
UP12992 • Found Nov 2, 2010
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%30 mi away, same state
TimingFound 35 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'1"–6'3"
Weight 65%117 lb vs 165–195 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Blond
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
78%Possible
John Doe — Vacaville, California - unidentified case UP15524
John Doe — Vacaville, California
UP15524 • Found Apr 28, 1979
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Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%17 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 75%5'5"–6'1" vs 6'1"–6'3"
Weight 100%185 lb vs 165–195 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
78%Possible
John Doe — Redding, California
UP125546 • Found Jan 26, 1979
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 64%156 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%6'3" vs 6'1"–6'3"
Weight 100%200 lb vs 165–195 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
78%Possible
John Doe — Sausalito, California
UP12220 • Found May 15, 2013
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%32 mi away, same state
TimingFound 37 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'1"–6'3"
Weight 100%180 lb vs 165–195 lb
77%Possible
John Doe — Napa, California
UP69733 • Found Dec 14, 2007
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 32 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0"–6'3" vs 6'1"–6'3"
77%Possible
John Doe — Forestville, California
UP93104 • Found Dec 31, 1994
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%35 mi away, same state
TimingFound 19 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11"–6'1" vs 6'1"–6'3"
77%Possible
John Doe — California
UP17744 • Found Feb 11, 1986
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–40 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%34 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"–6'3"
77%Possible
John Doe — Brisbane, California - unidentified case UP12987
John Doe — Brisbane, California
UP12987 • Found Sep 17, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 91%42 mi away, same state
TimingFound 39 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'1"–6'3"
Weight 100%175 lb vs 165–195 lb
77%Possible
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5945 • Found Apr 29, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 55–75 vs 33 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%37 mi away, same state
TimingFound 20 years after last seen
Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"–6'3"
Weight 100%180 lb vs 165–195 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Blond
Eyes 100%Blue 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.