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Crime Solvers Central
298 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 (MP4662) and 5 other sources
Michael Charles Causley, a 16-year-old from Hawthorne, California, was last seen on May 11, 1979. On that day, Michael was involved in a boating accident in the Pacific Ocean, between Redondo Beach and Catalina Island. Following the accident, he disappeared, and despite efforts to locate him, his body was never recovered. It is presumed that Michael drowned, but his exact fate remains unknown. The case has since been classified as lost/injured missing, and authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

At the time of his disappearance, Michael was described as a Caucasian male, 5'7", 150 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Despite the belief that he drowned in the ocean, Michael's case remains unresolved due to the lack of any physical recovery. Investigators have kept his case open for decades, and it remains one of many unsolved missing persons cases from that era. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department to assist with further investigations.

Last Seen: May 11, 1979

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.

88%Strong
John Doe — Bell, California - unidentified case UP4399
John Doe — Bell, California
UP4399 • Found Sep 19, 1979
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–25 vs 16
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 92%129 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
86%Strong
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP4180 • Found Dec 22, 1985
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 16–25 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 99%134 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
86%Strong
John Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP4367
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP4367 • Found Sep 26, 1980
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–18 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 93%130 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
86%Strong
John Doe — Hollywood, California
UP4372 • Found Jul 20, 1980
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 91%Est. 18–27 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away, same county
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 93%130 lb vs 150 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 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%145 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — California
UP3831 • Found Oct 11, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 26–31 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%151 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — California
UP3841 • Found Sep 7, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%149 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — California
UP4013 • Found Nov 15, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%159 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — Bell Gardens, California
UP4202 • Found Apr 17, 1985
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–25 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'7"
Weight 93%130 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP4288
John Doe — Los Angeles, California
UP4288 • Found Dec 16, 1982
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 95%Est. 20–30 vs 16 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 95%169 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 60%Black 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.

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