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Aretha Chism missing person case profile photo

Aretha Chism Missing Person Case

Last seen in Victorville, California on Jan 1, 1999

Victim Details

Feb 12, 2010

Dec 19, 2023

Aretha

Chism

58

31

65 inches

130 lbs

Black / African American

Female

Jan 1, 1999

Victorville

California

San Bernardino County

8182

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department- Victorville Station

Victorville

California

San Bernardino County

92392

14200 Amargosa Road, California

7602412911

County

Law Enforcement

https://wp.sbcounty.gov/sheriff/patrol-stations/victorville/

170003013

San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department- Victorville Station

Black

Brown

Brown

Oct 7, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP5087) and 5 other sources
Aretha Chism, a 31-year-old woman, was last seen on January 1, 1999, in Victorville, California. At the time of her disappearance, she was living in the Victorville area and was described as having black hair, brown eyes, and standing about 5'5" tall, weighing approximately 130 lbs. Chism may have also used the names Aretha Novell Chism or Aretha Matthews. Her family reported that they had not seen or heard from her since that date, and few details about the circumstances of her disappearance have been made public. She was believed to have been homeless at the time.

Her case is classified as an endangered missing person, and there has been little progress since she was last seen. Investigators have her dental, fingerprint, and DNA records on file, but no significant leads have emerged over the years. The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department continues to investigate her disappearance, and her case remains unsolved, with law enforcement urging anyone with information to come forward.

Aretha's case has been listed in both NamUs and the California Department of Justice's missing persons database, yet despite being missing for over two decades, there are still no clear answers about what happened to her.
Last Seen: Jan 1, 1999

Links to Additional Sources (5)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Aretha Matthews Chism - The Charley Project
  • Aretha Matthews Chism | State of California - Department of Justice
  • 3664DFCA - Aretha Matthews Chism - Doe Network
  • List: Missing Persons with Photos Needed Pt 1
  • Questa Burns missing | Whereabouts Still Unknown

    • 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
    Jane Doe — California
    UP3371 • Found Mar 31, 2000
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 19–39 vs 31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 85%64 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 15 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'4" vs 5'5"
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    79%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP139172
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP139172 • Found Jan 27, 2025
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 85%64 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 26 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'2"–5'4" vs 5'5"
    Weight 100%125 lb vs 130 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP132299 • Found Jul 20, 2024
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 85%65 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 26 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'4"–5'7" vs 5'5"
    Weight 100%115–145 lb vs 130 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    78%Possible
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP162585
    Jane Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP162585 • Found Aug 4, 2026
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 84%67 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 28 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'7"–5'9" vs 5'5"
    Weight 97%105–115 lb vs 130 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    Jane Doe — South Pasadena, California - unidentified case UP78204
    Jane Doe — South Pasadena, California
    UP78204 • Found Sep 6, 2020
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 87%57 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 22 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5"–5'8" vs 5'5"
    Weight 100%140–155 lb vs 130 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    75%Possible
    Jane Doe — Burbank, California - unidentified case UP108240
    Jane Doe — Burbank, California
    UP108240 • Found Sep 6, 2023
    View case
    Sex ✓Female
    Age 85%Est. 30–55 vs 31 when missing
    Race 100%Black
    Location 85%64 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 25 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6"–5'11" vs 5'5"
    Weight 32%180–200 lb vs 130 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)

    It's baffling how long Aretha's case has remained cold. I was looking into the timeframe and can't... ...Read More
    07/19/2023

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