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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 (MP10113) and 2 other sources
Stephen LaSpino, a 30-year-old male from Los Angeles, California, was last seen on August 4, 1988. He was on a commercial fishing trip in the Big Sur area, aboard a vessel named *The Mission Bell*. Accompanying him on the trip were his employer, Vito Russo, Russo’s 13-year-old son Jason, and a coworker named Stacy Sabal. The group departed for the fishing trip but never returned, and they were reported missing a few days later.

Extensive search efforts, including those by the United States Coast Guard, scoured the Big Sur region, but neither the boat nor its passengers were ever located. The circumstances of their disappearance remain a mystery, with no definitive evidence pointing to what might have happened. LaSpino had distinguishing features such as brown hair, blue eyes, and a scar on his upper lip. The case, which remains unsolved, is classified as a "lost/injured missing" case, and despite the passage of time, no further information has emerged to resolve the mystery surrounding the disappearance.
Last Seen: Aug 4, 1988

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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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.

85%Strong
John Doe — Orange, California - unidentified case UP7680
John Doe — Orange, California
UP7680 • Found Oct 14, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 32–37 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%25 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"
Weight 93%204 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
84%Moderate
John Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP3713
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP3713 • Found Oct 23, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'9"
Weight 100%182 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
83%Moderate
John Doe — California
UP3920 • Found Feb 3, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 88%Est. 19–29 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 18 months after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'9"
Weight 74%139 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — California
UP3941 • Found Oct 28, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 24–36 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 15 months after last seen
Height 84%5'11" vs 5'9"
Weight 98%160 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
83%Moderate
John Doe — California
UP3949 • Found Oct 2, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"
Weight 100%187 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
83%Moderate
John Doe — California
UP4013 • Found Nov 15, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 30
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 3 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"
Weight 97%159 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
82%Moderate
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP104480 • Found Mar 22, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–70 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 35 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6"–5'9" vs 5'9"
Weight 100%180–190 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
82%Moderate
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP3686 • Found Jun 13, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'9"
Weight 76%220 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP3946 • Found Oct 15, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 29–40 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%6 mi away, same county
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'9"
Weight 77%219 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
82%Moderate
John Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP137125
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP137125 • Found Nov 16, 2024
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 36 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"
Weight 92%155 lb vs 180 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.

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