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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 (MP13029) and 5 other sources
In the small city of Little Falls, Minnesota, a long and perplexing mystery began to unfold on July 22, 1994. On that summer day, 43-year-old Charles Leo Zilka, a resident of the Morrison County community, was seen for the last time. The specific details surrounding his activities on that day remain scarce, leaving his loved ones and investigators with a painful void of information. At the time of his disappearance, Charles was described as a white male, standing at 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing approximately 250 pounds. He had brown hair and blue eyes. The circumstances leading up to the moment he vanished are not publicly known, and there was no information available regarding the clothing he was wearing or any personal items he may have had with him.

As days turned into weeks and then years, the silence surrounding Charles's whereabouts became deafening for those who knew him. The Morrison County Sheriff's Office opened an investigation into his disappearance, assigning it case number 94-004396, but the trail quickly grew cold. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, no significant leads have emerged to shed light on what might have happened to him. His case was formally entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System as case number MP13029 on November 22, 2011, nearly two decades after he was last seen, in the hopes that a wider audience might provide a crucial piece of information.

The years have stretched on, and the investigation into the disappearance of Charles Zilka remains open. His case is a somber reminder of the many individuals who vanish without a trace, leaving behind a legacy of unanswered questions and unresolved grief. The lack of evidence, witnesses, or any clear indication of foul play has made this a particularly challenging case for investigators. The circumstances of his disappearance are simply documented as "Charles was last seen in Little Falls, MN." Without any further details, the narrative of his last known moments is incomplete, a puzzle with most of its pieces missing, leaving his family and the community to wonder what became of him on that July day so long ago.

Last Seen: Jul 22, 1994

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

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 — Battle Lake, Minnesota - unidentified case UP16212
John Doe — Battle Lake, Minnesota
UP16212 • Found May 1, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 43 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 84%68 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'9"
Weight 39%160 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Minneapolis, Minnesota
UP124186 • Found Sep 25, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 43 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 79%88 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'9"
Weight 35%156 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Minneapolis, Minnesota - unidentified case UP763
John Doe — Minneapolis, Minnesota
UP763 • Found Dec 16, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 43 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 78%88 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"
Weight 7%131 lb vs 250 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
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.