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 (MP5807) and 6 other sources
Michael Ray Askren, a 17-year-old from Rosemead, California, disappeared under mysterious circumstances on August 6, 1981. He had just celebrated his birthday two days prior and lived with his grandparents due to his parents' separation. On the day of his disappearance, Michael left home at 6:00 p.m. with a friend. This friend later claimed to have dropped him off back at home, but Michael was never seen again. He did not take any belongings with him, aside from $30 in cash, leaving behind clothes and items for the upcoming school year, which raised concerns among his family and investigators.

Initially, authorities considered the possibility that Michael had run away. However, there was no history of runaway behavior, and his family insisted that he would have informed them if he planned to be late. Over time, the case was reclassified, and foul play became the primary theory. Investigators now suspect that Michael may have been the victim of a homicide, although no definitive evidence has surfaced to confirm this. Despite several leads and efforts by law enforcement, his whereabouts remain unknown, and the case remains unsolved after more than four decades.

Michael was described as having brown hair, brown eyes, and distinctive scars from a hernia operation and a prior injury to his left elbow, which caused it to bow. He also had a pierced left ear. Various age-progressed images have been released in an attempt to gather new leads, but to date, no breakthroughs have occurred. His disappearance is still classified as endangered, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department continues to handle the case.

Last Seen: Aug 6, 1981

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.

86%Strong
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP4180 • Found Dec 22, 1985
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 16–25 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%134 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
85%Strong
John Doe — California
UP3831 • Found Oct 11, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 26–31 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%151 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
85%Strong
John Doe — California
UP3841 • Found Sep 7, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%149 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
85%Strong
John Doe — California
UP3992 • Found Mar 12, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–29 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%145 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
85%Strong
John Doe — Bell Gardens, California
UP4202 • Found Apr 17, 1985
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–25 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%8 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 99%130 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
85%Strong
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP4291 • Found Nov 9, 1982
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–28 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 15 months after last seen
Height 84%5'9" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%133 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP9714 • Found Sep 22, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 17–27 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%142 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — California
UP3894 • Found Jul 22, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–28 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%151 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — California
UP3900 • Found Jul 13, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%145 lb vs 145 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP3932 • Found Nov 27, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–20 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6"–5'10" vs 5'7"
Weight 63%185–215 lb vs 145 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.