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 (MP9976) and 6 other sources
In the autumn of 1997, the family and friends of David Barnes, a 74-year-old man from Manhattan, New York, were faced with a deep and troubling mystery. Mr. Barnes was last seen on September 6, 1997, in the area of the Amsterdam Houses, a public housing development in the borough. After that day, all communication from him ceased, and he has not been seen or heard from since, leaving a void of information and a lingering sense of uncertainty for those who knew him. At the time of his disappearance, David Barnes was described as a Black / African American male, standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing approximately 180 pounds. He had graying brown hair, which he was known to wear in a ponytail, and distinct gray eyes. He may have had a beard, mustache, or goatee at the time he went missing.

The circumstances surrounding David Barnes's disappearance remain distressingly vague, with very few details available to the public or to the investigators assigned to his case. The New York City Police Department - Missing Persons Squad took on the investigation, but the passage of time has not yielded any significant breakthroughs. The lack of witnesses, coupled with the absence of any note or indication of his plans, has made the investigation incredibly challenging. His case is one of many that linger in the city, a quiet but persistent question mark in the bustling metropolis.

Decades have now passed since David Barnes vanished. The world has changed in countless ways, but for those who remember him, the absence of answers is a constant. With no updates on his whereabouts or any evidence to suggest what may have happened to him, his case remains an open and unresolved matter. The overview of this case is one of profound and enduring mystery, a narrative without a conclusion, leaving only the hope that one day, information will come to light that can finally explain what happened to David Barnes.

Last Seen: Sep 6, 1997

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
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6103
John Doe — New York, New York
UP6103 • Found Jan 25, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 55–75 vs 74 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%1 mi away, same county
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 91%206 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Gray
78%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP89681
John Doe — New York, New York
UP89681 • Found Feb 14, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–75 vs 74 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%4 mi away, same county
TimingFound 24 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%164 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 40%Bald vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Gray
78%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP86788
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP86788 • Found Nov 22, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–75 vs 74 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%6 mi away, same state
TimingFound 24 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 79%143 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Gray
78%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5539
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5539 • Found May 31, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 55–75 vs 74 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 71%136 lb vs 180 lb
78%Possible
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP6090
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP6090 • Found Oct 17, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 76%Est. 45–70 vs 74 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%168 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Gray
77%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP89030
John Doe — New York, New York
UP89030 • Found Feb 12, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 55–75 vs 74 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 24 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"
Weight 73%222 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Gray vs Gray
77%Possible
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP1752 • Found Jan 26, 2008
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 79%Est. 64–70 vs 74 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 99%13 mi away
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 81%145 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5569
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5569 • Found Dec 18, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 78%Est. 60–70 vs 74 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%166 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Gray
77%Possible
John Doe — Newark,, New Jersey
UP558 • Found Jul 16, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 77%Est. 50–70 vs 74 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%11 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"
Weight 98%160 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP2814
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP2814 • Found Dec 21, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 77%Est. 50–70 vs 74 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%164 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Gray

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.