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Phillip Montoya Missing Person Case

Last seen in Fremont, California on Mar 29, 1974

Victim Details

Jan 6, 2010

Nov 1, 2023

Phillip

Montoya

66

14

64 inches

110 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Mar 29, 1974

Fremont

California

Alameda County

No

8084

Fremont Police Department

Fremont

California

Alameda County

94538

Jodi Goralczyk

CSO

2000 Stevenson Boulevard, California

5107906800

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.fremontpolice.org/

40329123

Fremont Police Department

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 16, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP4543) and 7 other sources
Phillip Alfred Montoya, age 14, disappeared on March 29, 1974, from Fremont, California. On the day of his disappearance, he told two classmates at Mission San Jose High School that he planned to run away. He borrowed two dollars from a friend to ride the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) train, although the nearest station was over four miles away. Montoya left his ten-speed bicycle at school, chained to a pole, and has not been seen since.

Despite mentioning his intent to run away, Montoya did not fit the typical profile of a runaway teen. He took no extra clothes with him, and his only known money was the borrowed two dollars. There were no significant issues in his personal life that would have explained a prolonged disappearance. His mother reported him missing when he failed to return home from school that day.

Several months later, some friends of his older brother reported seeing him in the Warm Springs area, but they did not realize he was missing at the time and only reported the sighting later. His father, who was stationed in Germany with the military at the time, had planned for Phillip and his brother to visit him in June 1974. Despite extensive investigations, no evidence of foul play has been uncovered, and Montoya's case remains unsolved.
Last Seen: Mar 29, 1974

Links to Additional Sources (7)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Phillip Alfred Montoya | Fremont Police Department, CA
  • Phillip Alfred Montoya | State of California - Department of Justice
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP4543
  • Phillip Montoya | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • 604DMCA - Phillip Alfred Montoya - Doe Network
  • Phillip Alfred Montoya
  • [DOC] MISSING PERSON - For the Lost

    • 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.

    82%Moderate
    John Doe — San Jose, California - unidentified case UP125517
    John Doe — San Jose, California
    UP125517 • Found Feb 11, 1998
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–32 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%15 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 24 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'4"
    Weight 93%125 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — San Francisco, California
    UP11460 • Found Jun 15, 1985
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 25–50 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 95%28 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
    Weight 84%130 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Half Moon Bay, California
    UP105017 • Found Feb 20, 1986
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 17–19 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 96%25 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'4" vs 5'4"
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Pescadero, California
    UP105014 • Found Jun 5, 1982
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 12–14 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 95%30 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3"–5'4" vs 5'4"
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Sacramento, California
    UP2393 • Found Aug 20, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 82%76 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 14 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'3" vs 5'4"
    Weight 89%127 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Tiburon, California
    UP7084 • Found Aug 20, 1999
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 28–40 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%35 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 25 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
    Weight 84%130 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Burlingame, California
    UP9898 • Found Oct 5, 1995
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 33–46 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 97%21 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 22 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'7" vs 5'4"
    Weight 59%142 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    John Doe — San Francisco, California
    UP5943 • Found Mar 2, 1995
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 95%28 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 21 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
    Weight 87%128 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    John Doe — San Francisco, California
    UP5904 • Found Sep 17, 1984
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 14 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 95%28 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'6" vs 5'4"
    Weight 0%210 lb vs 110 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Aptos, California - unidentified case UP3057
    John Doe — Aptos, California
    UP3057 • Found Jul 14, 1974
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 80%Est. 16–25 vs 14
    Race 100%White
    Location 92%40 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 4 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"
    Hair 50%Red 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 (2)

    Has anyone else thought about how odd it is that Phillip left his bike at school? I mean, if he was... ...Read More
    08/30/2024
    Hey everyone, I've been following Phillip Alfred Montoya's case, and there's a curious detail I... ...Read More
    03/30/2024

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