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Dale Kelley Missing Person Case

Last seen in Carmichael, California on May 20, 1981

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Victim Details

Apr 1, 2010

Oct 31, 2023

Dale

Kelley

66

21

70 inches

165 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

May 20, 1981

Carmichael

California

Sacramento County

95608

8361

Sacramento County Sheriff's Office

Sacramento

California

Sacramento County

95841

Zaheem Buksh

Detective, Missing Persons

4500 Orange Grove Avenue, California

9168745115

County

Law Enforcement

sacsheriff.com

81-041416

May 22, 1981

Sacramento County Sheriff's Office

Brown

Green

Green

Oct 17, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP5667) and 8 other sources
Dale Eugene Kelley, a 21-year-old from Carmichael, California, was last seen on May 20, 1981. That morning, Dale called his girlfriend at 8:00 a.m., telling her he was planning to drive from his home in Carmichael to Los Angeles to visit her. However, it is unclear when exactly he left his home, and he never arrived in Los Angeles. Dale was driving an orange 1976 Toyota Celica with California license plate 598TIH, which was later found abandoned on June 4, 1981, in New Orleans, Louisiana—thousands of miles away. Inside the car, authorities found a Texas map, a book on Texas, and a postcard from a Louisiana restaurant, but there were no signs of Dale himself.

At the time of his disappearance, Dale was a student and football player at American River College in Sacramento. His case has been classified as suspicious, and foul play is suspected, though no concrete evidence has emerged regarding his fate. Despite the recovery of his vehicle, investigators have not been able to determine how or why it ended up in New Orleans, leaving many unanswered questions about his whereabouts.

If you have any information regarding his case, authorities urge you to contact the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department.
Last Seen: May 20, 1981

Links to Additional Sources (8)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • UPDATE: New Details Emerge in the 1981 Disappearance of Dale ...
  • Dale Eugene Kelley - The Charley Project
  • Cold Case Investigations- Homicide - Sacramento - Sac Sheriff
  • In 1981, a Sacramento Man Disappears on Trip to Los Angeles. Two ...
  • 573DMCA - Dale Eugene Kelley - Doe Network
  • Dale Kelley | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • Unresolved Disappearance - What happened to Dale Kelley? - Reddit
  • Dale Eugene Kelley

    • 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.

    83%Moderate
    John Doe — Sacramento, California
    UP2404 • Found May 12, 1982
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 21
    Race 100%White
    Location 92%40 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 12 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
    Weight 96%145 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Green
    82%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP4946 • Found Sep 8, 1982
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–22 vs 21 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 81%79 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 16 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%150 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Berkeley, California - unidentified case UP53302
    John Doe — Berkeley, California
    UP53302 • Found Mar 19, 1985
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 21 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 83%73 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
    Weight 86%137 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    81%Moderate
    John Doe — San Francisco, California
    UP5872 • Found Oct 16, 1981
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 21
    Race 100%White
    Location 80%84 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 5 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%153 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Green
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — California - unidentified case UP2363
    John Doe — California
    UP2363 • Found Mar 9, 2003
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 21 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%11 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 22 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Sacramento, California
    UP12982 • Found Dec 4, 1986
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 21 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%9 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 6 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%164 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Green
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Sacramento, California
    UP2398 • Found Aug 11, 1986
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 21 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%11 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 5 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%149 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Green
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Sausalito, California
    UP7082 • Found Aug 21, 2007
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 21 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 80%83 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 26 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%160 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 70%Hazel vs Green
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Broderick, California
    UP7484 • Found May 12, 1986
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 21 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%12 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 5 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Unincorporated - Brisbane, California
    UP9683 • Found Mar 6, 1984
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 21 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 78%88 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%180 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 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)

    Does anyone else find it puzzling that Dale's car ended up in New Orleans with those specific items... ...Read More
    04/25/2024

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