Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
John Rafferty missing person case profile photo

John Rafferty Missing Person Case

Last seen in Los Angeles, California on May 1, 1979

Create Press Release
Create Social Post
Create Flyer

Victim Details

Nov 21, 2011

Nov 17, 2021

John

Rafferty

77

30

67 inches

68 inches

125 lbs

140 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

May 1, 1979

Los Angeles

California

Los Angeles County

11013

Los Angeles Police Department- Adult Missing Persons Unit

Los Angeles

California

Los Angeles County

90012

100 West 1st Street, California

8772755273

Local

Law Enforcement

http://www.lapdonline.org/

130325305

Los Angeles Police Department- Adult Missing Persons Unit

Brown

Hazel

Hazel

Oct 16, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP13016) and 1 other source
John Rafferty, a 30-year-old man, was last seen on May 1, 1979, after leaving Dallas, Texas. He was known to have relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he reportedly sought treatment for injuries following a mugging at UCLA Medical Center sometime between 1980 and 1981. There were unconfirmed reports that he might have taken up odd jobs, working for cash as a landscaper, rug cleaner, or carpenter during his time in Los Angeles.

Despite these details, Rafferty's whereabouts remain unknown, and no significant leads have surfaced since his disappearance. His case has been registered in NamUs and continues to be investigated by authorities, though progress has been limited due to the lack of substantial evidence. He was described as 5'7" tall, weighing around 125 pounds, with brown hair at the time of his disappearance.
Last Seen: May 1, 1979

Links to Additional Sources (1)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP13016 | 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.

    87%Strong
    John Doe — California
    UP4340 • Found Jun 7, 1981
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 28–38 vs 30 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 2 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"–5'8"
    Weight 100%142 lb vs 125–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Hazel vs Hazel
    85%Strong
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP4271 • Found Jul 9, 1983
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 30 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"–5'8"
    Weight 100%120 lb vs 125–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    85%Strong
    John Doe — California
    UP4349 • Found Feb 28, 1981
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 30 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 22 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"–5'8"
    Weight 100%126 lb vs 125–140 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    85%Strong
    John Doe — California
    UP4382 • Found Mar 21, 1980
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 30
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 11 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"–5'8"
    Weight 100%142 lb vs 125–140 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    84%Moderate
    John Doe — California - unidentified case UP16758
    John Doe — California
    UP16758 • Found Nov 9, 1979
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 30
    Race 100%White
    Location 88%56 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 6 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'7"–5'8"
    Weight 100%150 lb vs 125–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    84%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP4166 • Found Jun 4, 1986
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 30 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"–5'8"
    Weight 100%152 lb vs 125–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    84%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP4334 • Found Aug 3, 1981
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 27–37 vs 30 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 2 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"–5'8"
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    83%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP3831 • Found Oct 11, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 26–31 vs 30 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"–5'8"
    Weight 100%151 lb vs 125–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    83%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP3841 • Found Sep 7, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 30 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%Same area, same county
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"–5'8"
    Weight 100%149 lb vs 125–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    83%Moderate
    John Doe — Universal City, California
    UP4012 • Found Nov 22, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 30 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%8 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"–5'8"
    Weight 100%121 lb vs 125–140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel

    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.

    Latest News

    View All

    Forum Posts (1)

    John Rafferty was 30 when he was last seen after leaving Dallas, Texas, on May 1, 1979. He is... ...Read More
    11/19/2023

    Other Missing Cases from Los Angeles, California

    Robert Vincent Black missing person case in Los Angeles, California

    Robert Vincent Black

    Missing: Mar 12, 1996
    Robert Vincent Black, a 64-year-old white male, has been missing since March 12, 1996, from Los ...Read More
    Jeffry Almaraz-Larios missing person case in Los Angeles, California

    Jeffry Almaraz-Larios

    Missing: Dec 26, 2016
    Jeffry Almaraz-Larios, a 15-year-old boy, was last seen on December 26, 2016, in Los Angeles ...Read More
    Jesus Sicairos missing person case in Los Angeles, California

    Jesus Sicairos

    Missing: Jul 14, 2009
    Jesus Ramon Sicairos, a 32-year-old man, was last seen in Los Angeles, California, on July 14, 2009. ...Read More
    Daniel Rosario missing person case in Los Angeles, California

    Daniel Rosario

    Missing: Oct 11, 2020
    Daniel Rosario, a 77-year-old male, was reported missing from Los Angeles, California, on October ...Read More
    Patrick Lanza missing person case in Los Angeles, California

    Patrick Lanza

    Missing: Dec 21, 2002
    Patrick Lanza, a 34-year-old Hispanic male, was last seen in Los Angeles, California, on December ...Read More
    Fnu Harshpreet-singh missing person case in LOS ANGELES, California

    Fnu Harshpreet-singh

    Missing: May 20, 2024
    Fnu Harshpreet-Singh was last seen in Los Angeles, California, on May 20, 2024. At the time of his ...Read More
    Eion Andrew Thomas Spellman missing person case in Los Angeles, California

    Eion Andrew Thomas Spellman

    Missing: Jul 1, 2024
    Eion Andrew Thomas Spellman, a 28-year-old man, was last seen in Los Angeles, California on July 1 ...Read More