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Vito Russo Missing Person Case

Last seen in Los Angeles, California on Aug 4, 1988

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Victim Details

Apr 6, 2011

Jun 13, 2018

Vito

Russo

73

35

66 inches

140 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Aug 4, 1988

Los Angeles

California

Los Angeles County

21460

Los Angeles Police Department

Los Angeles

California

,

890506204

Los Angeles Police Department

Black

Brown

Brown

Oct 9, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP10112) and 8 other sources
Vito Jack Russo, age 35, was last seen on August 4, 1988, in Los Angeles, California. He, along with his 13-year-old son Jason and two employees, Stephen Laspino and Stacy Lee Sabal, went missing during a commercial fishing trip on their vessel, *The Mission Bell*. The group was reported missing when they failed to return from a trip to the Big Sur area of Northern California. Despite an extensive search by the U.S. Coast Guard, neither the boat nor any of the men were ever found.

Vito Russo was described as a Caucasian male, 5'6" tall, weighing 140 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. At the time of his disappearance, he had a mustache and was sometimes referred to by his middle name, Jack. Despite searches and investigations, the case remains unsolved, and the whereabouts of the four individuals and the boat remain unknown.
Last Seen: Aug 4, 1988

Links to Additional Sources (8)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Vito Jack Russo | State of California - Department of Justice - CA.gov
  • Vito Jack Russo - The Charley Project
  • 404DMCA - Vito Jack Russo - Doe Network
  • Local News in Brief : Search for Missing Boat Scaled Down
  • Jason Jack Russo | State of California - Department of Justice - CA.gov
  • Jason Jack Russo - The Charley Project
  • Missing Persons, from NAMPN 1987 to 1989 - Poli-con-deaths
  • Missing Person / NamUs

    • 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.

    88%Strong
    John Doe — California
    UP4003 • Found Jan 15, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 35
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 5 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
    Weight 89%118 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    87%Strong
    John Doe — California
    UP3850 • Found Jul 2, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
    Weight 100%140 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    87%Strong
    John Doe — California
    UP3900 • Found Jul 13, 1990
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 23 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"
    Weight 100%145 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    87%Strong
    John Doe — Santa Ana, California - unidentified case UP7666
    John Doe — Santa Ana, California
    UP7666 • Found Oct 10, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 35
    Race 100%White
    Location 95%30 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 2 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'7" vs 5'6"
    Weight 100%127 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    86%Strong
    John Doe — California
    UP3721 • Found Jul 4, 1993
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 33–43 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 5 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
    Weight 100%148 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    86%Strong
    John Doe — Gardena, California
    UP3879 • Found Oct 12, 1990
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 27–37 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%12 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 2 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'6"
    Weight 100%130 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    86%Strong
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP3898 • Found Jul 19, 1990
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 23 months after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'6"
    Weight 100%143 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    86%Strong
    John Doe — Seal Beach, California
    UP7668 • Found Apr 21, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 35–38 vs 35
    Race 100%White
    Location 97%23 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 9 months after last seen
    Height 84%5'4" vs 5'6"
    Weight 100%135 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    86%Strong
    John Doe — Santa Ana, California - unidentified case UP7665
    John Doe — Santa Ana, California
    UP7665 • Found Sep 4, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 35
    Race 100%White
    Location 95%30 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 4 weeks after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
    Weight 100%140 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    86%Strong
    John Doe — California
    UP4035 • Found Aug 22, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 29–39 vs 35
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 3 weeks after last seen
    Height 84%5'4" vs 5'6"
    Weight 77%110 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown

    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.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Vito Jack Russo, 35, disappeared on a commercial fishing trip from Los Angeles on August 4, 1988. He... ...Read More
    12/19/2024

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