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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 (MP10274) and 4 other sources
Phouvuiay Thetsombandith, a 20-year-old Laotian man, was last seen on August 18, 1991, in San Diego, California. Phouvuiay had moved from Laos in 1989 to live with relatives and improve his English. On the day of his disappearance, he was walking in the 6000 block of Brooklyn Avenue when he was abducted by four or five men at gunpoint. The men forced him into a white or gray 1991 Buick Skylark. He left behind one of his shoes at the scene.

Phouvuiay's abduction was a case of mistaken identity. The perpetrator, Percyval Dryden, wrongly believed Phouvuiay was someone who had broken into his car the night before. Dryden was later convicted of Phouvuiay's murder and sentenced to 19 years to life in prison, but he has never disclosed the location of Phouvuiay's body. Despite Dryden's conviction, Phouvuiay's remains have never been found. His family, particularly his parents in Laos, continue to hope for the recovery of his body so they can provide him a proper burial in line with their Buddhist traditions.

Phouvuiay's case is classified as an endangered missing person, with foul play strongly suspected given the circumstances of his disappearance.

Last Seen: Aug 18, 1991

Possible Unidentified Matches (6)

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 — Monterey Park, California - unidentified case UP3515
John Doe — Monterey Park, California
UP3515 • Found Jun 4, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 22–32 vs 20 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 73%108 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
Weight 100%124 lb vs 115 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — San Ysidro, California
UP57998 • Found Jan 31, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 20 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 99%14 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 52%5'8" vs 5'4"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
78%Possible
John Doe — Lakeside, California - unidentified case UP2124
John Doe — Lakeside, California
UP2124 • Found Oct 8, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–26 vs 20 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 98%17 mi away, same county
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'4"
Weight 55%150 lb vs 115 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — San Diego, California - unidentified case UP4948
John Doe — San Diego, California
UP4948 • Found Sep 8, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 17–29 vs 20
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 weeks after last seen
Height 52%5'8" vs 5'4"
Weight 100%112 lb vs 115 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — California
UP3545 • Found Feb 23, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 21–34 vs 20 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 73%111 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
75%Possible
John Doe — Calexico, California
UP13428 • Found Nov 6, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 20 when missing
Race 100%Asian
Location 76%97 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
Weight 55%150 lb vs 115 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black

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.