Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP7952) and 3 other sources
In the quiet town of Kent, Ohio, the evening of May 14, 1993, marked the last time 45-year-old James Floyd Powell was ever seen. A friend had dropped him off at his home after a doctor's appointment that day. The following morning, when the same friend returned to Powell's apartment, he was gone. An unsettling scene was left behind; Valium pills that had been prescribed to him were found scattered in the hallway outside his apartment. At the time of his disappearance, it is believed he may have been carrying a significant amount of cash, around $1,200. Powell, a veteran of the Vietnam War, was also reportedly dealing with a debilitating, though unspecified, illness.

James Powell was a Caucasian male with brown hair and brown eyes, standing at 5'11' and weighing approximately 220 pounds. He had some distinctive physical characteristics, including a nervous tic, a frozen right shoulder, and some gaps between his teeth. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are largely unknown, leaving a painful void for those who knew him. Authorities have, for reasons not publicly specified, advised the public not to approach him if seen and to contact law enforcement immediately. This warning adds a layer of complexity and concern to an already perplexing case.

Decades have passed since James Floyd Powell vanished, and his case remains an open and troubling mystery. The few details available paint a picture of a man who disappeared under sudden and mysterious circumstances. The scattered medication and the money he may have had with him suggest a departure that was not planned. The lack of any contact or sightings in the many years since that spring day in 1993 has left his family and investigators with few answers. The Kent Police Department continues to hold the case file, a silent testament to a life interrupted and a story without an ending. The investigation into what happened to James Floyd Powell continues, a long-standing effort to bring closure to a case that has remained cold for far too long.

Last Seen: May 14, 1993

Possible Unidentified Matches (4)

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.

76%Possible
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio - unidentified case UP1984
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio
UP1984 • Found Apr 30, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%30 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 52%5'7" vs 5'11"
Weight 76%172 lb vs 220 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP13157 • Found Jun 8, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 71%119 mi away
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'11"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan - unidentified case UP8237
John Doe — Detroit, Michigan
UP8237 • Found Jun 11, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 71%119 mi away
TimingFound 13 months after last seen
Height 68%5'8" vs 5'11"
Weight 39%141 lb vs 220 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7974
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7974 • Found Jun 17, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 45
Race 100%White
Location 37%385 mi away
TimingFound 5 weeks after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%230 lb vs 220 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
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.