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Joyce Harper Missing Person Case

Last seen in Potrero, California on Jan 1, 1975

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Victim Details

Nov 6, 2012

May 9, 2023

Joyce

Harper

83

32

63 inches

120 lbs

White / Caucasian

Female

Jan 1, 1975

Potrero

California

San Diego County

12598

San Diego County Sheriff's Department

San Diego

California

San Diego County

92123

9621 Ridgehaven Court, California

8585655200

County

Law Enforcement

www.sdsheriff.net

95087100

San Diego County Sheriff's Department

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 11, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP18020) and 5 other sources
Joyce Elizabeth Harper, 32 years old at the time, was last seen on January 1, 1975, in Potrero, California. She stood 5'3" tall, weighed 120 pounds, and had brown hair and brown eyes. Harper was known to use the alias names Joyce Gann and Vivian Ann Maddux. Despite being missing since 1975, she was not officially reported missing until December 15, 1995, by her daughter.

Joyce's case is marked by suspicious circumstances, as her teenage daughter, Kimberly Cozart, also disappeared two years later in 1977 from Julian, California. Both disappearances remain unsolved, and it is unclear if they are related. Authorities continue to investigate, but no major breakthroughs have been made since both cases were reported.
Last Seen: Jan 1, 1975

Links to Additional Sources (5)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Joyce Harper | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom">Joyce Harper | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • Joyce Elizabeth Harper - The Charley Project
  • 1418DFCA - Joyce Elizabeth Harper - Doe Network
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP18020 | NamUs
  • CA - JOYCE ELIZABETH HARPER: Missing from Potrero, CA - Age 31

    • 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.

    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — San Diego, California - unidentified case UP63965
    Jane Doe — San Diego, California
    UP63965 • Found Aug 26, 1981
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 32 when missing
    Race 60%Hispanic
    Location 96%26 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2" vs 5'3"
    Weight 100%130 lb vs 120 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    Jane Doe — Camp Pendleton South, California
    UP152658 • Found Sep 11, 2001
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 32 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%62 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 27 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2" vs 5'3"
    Weight 100%125 lb vs 120 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — Carlsbad, California - unidentified case UP128322
    Jane Doe — Carlsbad, California
    UP128322 • Found Aug 12, 2024
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 32 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 88%55 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 50 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'3"
    Weight 100%111 lb vs 120 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — Calexico, California
    UP15569 • Found Mar 18, 1987
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 32 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 85%65 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'5" vs 5'3"
    Weight 100%125 lb vs 120 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — California - unidentified case UP4448
    Jane Doe — California
    UP4448 • Found Aug 20, 1976
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 32 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 68%137 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 20 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'2"–5'4" vs 5'3"
    Weight 100%115–140 lb vs 120 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — California
    UP4209 • Found Jan 26, 1985
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 32 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 68%137 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2" vs 5'3"
    Weight 100%118 lb vs 120 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — San Diego, California - unidentified case UP11736
    Jane Doe — San Diego, California
    UP11736 • Found Oct 19, 1981
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 32 when missing
    Race 60%Hispanic
    Location 94%31 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2" vs 5'3"
    Weight 93%136 lb vs 120 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Indio, California
    UP7218 • Found Feb 25, 1977
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 93%Est. 35–45 vs 32 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 81%80 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 2 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'4" vs 5'3"
    Weight 70%150 lb vs 120 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — El Cajon, California
    UP55892 • Found Jun 11, 2002
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 32 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 97%22 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 27 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1"–5'4" vs 5'3"
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — Desert Shores, California
    UP13543 • Found Jul 28, 2001
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 32 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 85%64 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 27 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'0" vs 5'3"
    Weight 100%125 lb vs 120 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    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.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Joyce Elizabeth Harper was 32 when she was last seen on January 1, 1975, in Potrero, California. She... ...Read More
    10/08/2023

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