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 (MP6579) and 6 other sources
Sherry Elizabeth Roach, a 17-year-old from San Mateo, California, was last seen on June 8, 1976. On that day, she left a group home called Pedregal House, where she had been residing, to take a bus to her part-time job in San Francisco. Sherry never made it to work and has not been seen or heard from since. Despite a history of running away, she always maintained contact with her family, particularly her brother, after past incidents. This time, no communication followed her disappearance, which raised serious concerns about her safety. The group home counselor reported her missing when she did not return that evening.

Sherry's case remained cold for decades, but renewed interest emerged in 2020 when authorities released a photograph showing her standing next to an unidentified man. The man, described as African-American and approximately six feet tall, was in his twenties at the time. Police have not been able to identify him but believe he may hold valuable information about Sherry's disappearance. Investigators have explored the possibility that Sherry could have been the victim of a serial killer, particularly due to her tendency to hitchhike, but no definitive evidence has emerged to support this theory.

Sherry's family, including her brother and mother, are still alive and hoping for answers. Despite multiple leads, including tips from new photos, her case remains unsolved, and authorities continue to seek information from the public to help bring closure to this decades-old mystery.

Last Seen: Jun 8, 1976

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
Jane Doe — Livermore, California
UP14953 • Found Mar 1, 1978
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Sex ✓Female
Age 97%Est. 19–21 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%32 mi away, same state
TimingFound 21 months after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'5"
Weight 100%110 lb vs 115 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
82%Moderate
Jane Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5857 • Found Feb 20, 1979
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 14–25 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%17 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'5"
Weight 26%162 lb vs 115 lb
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — San Jose, California - unidentified case UP129724
Jane Doe — San Jose, California
UP129724 • Found Jan 23, 2021
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%35 mi away, same state
TimingFound 45 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3"–5'5" vs 5'5"
Weight 100%120–125 lb vs 115 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5906 • Found Jan 7, 1985
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Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%16 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"
Weight 100%110 lb vs 115 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
Jane Doe — Santa Rosa, California
UP17490 • Found Jul 2, 1979
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 16–21 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%64 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 84%5'3" vs 5'5"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
Jane Doe — Newark, California - unidentified case UP53306
Jane Doe — Newark, California
UP53306 • Found Oct 24, 1985
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Sex ✓Female
Age 84%Est. 28–42 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%16 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6"–5'8" vs 5'5"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
Jane Doe — San Jose, California - unidentified case UP125213
Jane Doe — San Jose, California
UP125213 • Found Oct 27, 1985
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 18–32 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%29 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 68%5'2" vs 5'5"
Weight 85%135 lb vs 115 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
77%Possible
Jane Doe — Brisbane, California - unidentified case UP10944
Jane Doe — Brisbane, California
UP10944 • Found Jan 16, 2013
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 33–46 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same county
TimingFound 37 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'5"
76%Possible
Jane Doe — California - unidentified case UP17572
Jane Doe — California
UP17572 • Found Oct 30, 1980
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Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 18–27 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 68%134 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0"–5'5" vs 5'5"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
Jane Doe — San Francisco, California - unidentified case UP150119
Jane Doe — San Francisco, California
UP150119 • Found May 18, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 17 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%17 mi away, same state
TimingFound 49 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'5"
Weight 100%107 lb vs 115 lb
Hair 50%Red vs Brown
Eyes 50%Green vs Blue

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.