Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
Ernest Fortner missing person case profile photo

Ernest Fortner Missing Person Case

Last seen in Apache Junction, Arizona on Sep 5, 1970

Create Press Release

Victim Details

Feb 20, 2012

Oct 28, 2022

Ernest

Fortner

84

28

70 inches

72 inches

150 lbs

160 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Sep 5, 1970

Apache Junction

Arizona

Maricopa County

Apache Junction

11396

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Phoenix

Arizona

Maricopa County

85003

Kristina Hiers

Homicide Detective/ Deputy Sheriff

550 West Jackson Street, Arizona

6028761000

County

Law Enforcement

https://www.mcso.org/

14-002276

Apr 11, 2012

Maricopa County Sheriff's Office

Brown

Blue

Blue

Oct 9, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP13938) and 4 other sources
In the late summer of 1970, a young man's life took a turn into the unknown, leaving a void of information and unanswered questions that have persisted for decades. On September 5, 1970, 28-year-old Ernest Carroll Fortner was last seen in Apache Junction, Arizona. A white male with brown hair and blue eyes, Ernest stood between 5'10" and 6'0" tall and weighed approximately 150 to 160 pounds. A small scar within his left eyebrow was a subtle but distinct feature. The circumstances surrounding the day he vanished are exceptionally sparse, offering few clues for those who would later search for him.

The official investigation into Ernest's disappearance, handled by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, has been hampered by a significant lack of information. Decades after he was last seen, the case remains open, a silent testament to a life interrupted. No witnesses to his disappearance have ever come forward, and the events leading up to that September day remain shrouded in mystery. His case is a difficult one, marked by the absence of evidence that could shed light on his fate. Since the day he went missing, he has never been heard from again.

The passage of time has not brought clarity to the case of Ernest Fortner. With very few details available, his disappearance is a long-standing mystery in Maricopa County. The narrative of his life abruptly ends on that day in 1970, leaving only a basic physical description and the stark fact of his absence. The case is a poignant reminder of the many individuals who have vanished, leaving behind families and communities to grapple with the uncertainty. The investigation remains open, a cold case holding out hope for a resolution that might one day explain what happened to Ernest Carroll Fortner.
Last Seen: Sep 5, 1970

Links to Additional Sources (4)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Ernest Fortner | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • Ernest Carroll Fortner - The Charley Project
  • Missing Person / NamUs
  • Ernest Carroll Fortner | Missing Person | CrimeTea

    • 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 UP1904
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
    UP1904 • Found Aug 4, 1984
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 28 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 95%30 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 14 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Weight 94%130 lb vs 150–160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Tempe, Arizona - unidentified case UP2042
    John Doe — Tempe, Arizona
    UP2042 • Found Mar 11, 2003
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 28 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 97%22 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 33 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Weight 84%122 lb vs 150–160 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Rio Verde, Arizona - unidentified case UP13861
    John Doe — Rio Verde, Arizona
    UP13861 • Found Apr 28, 2015
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 28 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 97%22 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 45 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Globe vicinity, Arizona - unidentified case UP7206
    John Doe — Globe vicinity, Arizona
    UP7206 • Found Mar 17, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 28 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 91%44 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 18 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Laveen, Arizona - unidentified case UP2028
    John Doe — Laveen, Arizona
    UP2028 • Found Nov 23, 2003
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 28 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%36 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 33 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'0" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Weight 74%196 lb vs 150–160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    77%Possible
    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 28 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%33 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 31 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Weight 100%160 lb vs 150–160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1956
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
    UP1956 • Found Feb 13, 1999
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 28 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 95%30 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 28 years after last seen
    Height 84%6'2" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Weight 68%200 lb vs 150–160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    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 28 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%31 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 24 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Weight 100%157 lb vs 150–160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1919
    John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
    UP1919 • Found Jun 23, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 28 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 95%30 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 18 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Weight 80%191 lb vs 150–160 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP11669
    John Doe — Tucson, Arizona
    UP11669 • Found Aug 20, 1975
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 28 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 79%87 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 5 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
    Weight 88%185 lb vs 150–160 lb
    Hair 60%Black 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.

    Latest News

    View All

    Forum Posts (1)

    I recently stumbled upon something intriguing while going through archives about Ernest Carroll... ...Read More
    08/13/2023

    Other Missing Cases from Apache Junction, Arizona

    Cody Murphey missing person case in Apache Junction, Arizona

    Cody Murphey

    Missing: Jul 18, 2023
    In the summer of 2023, a then 16-year-old boy named Cody Murphey vanished from Apache Junction ...Read More
    Cody Vensor Jr. missing person case in Apache Junction, Arizona

    Cody Vensor Jr.

    Missing: Apr 1, 2025
    Cody Randee Vensor Jr., a 33-year-old man, was last seen on April 1, 2025, in Apache Junction ...Read More
    Phillip Wilson missing person case in Apache Junction, Arizona

    Phillip Wilson

    Missing: Sep 26, 2022
    On the morning of September 26, 2022, 53-year-old Phillip Wilson, a male resident of Apache ...Read More
    Khayman Welch missing person case in Apache Junction, Arizona

    Khayman Welch

    Missing: Aug 12, 2020
    On a sweltering Arizona evening, August 12, 2020, 25-year-old Khayman Welch's life took an ...Read More
    Donald Fulcher missing person case in Apache Junction, Arizona

    Donald Fulcher

    Missing: Jul 25, 2004
    On a summer day in July of 2004, 39-year-old Donald Leroy Fulcher was with friends at Roosevelt ...Read More