Crime Solvers Central
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 (MP8251) and 6 other sources
In the quiet Chicago suburb of Downers Grove, Illinois, Dale E. Lubben, a 51-year-old man, vanished without a trace, leaving behind a mystery that has endured for years. On December 22, 2005, Dale was last seen, and since that day, there has been no contact with his family or friends. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear, with very few details available to the public or law enforcement. His case is a quiet but persistent puzzle, a life interrupted for reasons unknown.

At the time he went missing, Dale was described as a white male with brown hair and blue eyes, standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing around 155 pounds. He wore eyeglasses and had a mustache. A scar on his upper lip served as a distinguishing physical feature. When he was last seen, he was wearing a tan jacket and blue jeans. The lack of information about his movements or state of mind on that winter day has made the investigation particularly challenging for the Downers Grove Police Department.

The passage of time has not brought any significant breakthroughs in the case of Dale Lubben. His disappearance is a cold case, a term used for unsolved criminal investigations that remain open pending the discovery of new evidence. With no witnesses to his disappearance and no clear indication of foul play or voluntary departure, investigators and his loved ones are left with lingering questions. The case serves as a somber reminder of the many individuals who go missing each year, their stories unresolved and their absences deeply felt by those they left behind. The overview of the case is one of profound uncertainty; a man seemingly vanished from his life with no explanation, leaving a void and a search for answers that continues.

Last Seen: Dec 22, 2005

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.

81%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP16642
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP16642 • Found Jan 14, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–69 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"
Weight 84%127 lb vs 155 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
81%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP8357 • Found Oct 8, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 51
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 months after last seen
Height 68%5'10" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 155 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
81%Moderate
John Doe — Waukegan, Illinois - unidentified case UP163526
John Doe — Waukegan, Illinois
UP163526 • Found Apr 8, 2026
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 92%39 mi away, same state
TimingFound 20 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%151 lb vs 155 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP78041
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP78041 • Found Oct 8, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 87%Est. 55–65 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away, same state
TimingFound 22 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%142 lb vs 155 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP11512
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP11512 • Found May 2, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 52%5'11" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%149 lb vs 155 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Lemont, Illinois - unidentified case UP54761
John Doe — Lemont, Illinois
UP54761 • Found Dec 18, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same state
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 72%118 lb vs 155 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
77%Possible
John Doe — Illinois
UP79964 • Found Mar 12, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 92%Est. 35–50 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%17 mi away, same state
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6"–6'0" vs 5'7"
Weight 46%103 lb vs 155 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP14526 • Found Jul 19, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 68%5'4" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 155 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP51609
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP51609 • Found Jun 28, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away, same state
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'8" vs 5'7"
76%Possible
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois - unidentified case UP6966
John Doe — Chicago, Illinois
UP6966 • Found Apr 15, 2010
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 38–55 vs 51 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 68%5'10" vs 5'7"
Weight 88%180 lb vs 155 lb

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.