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Jesse Work Missing Person Case

Last seen in Hemet, California on Feb 6, 1959

Victim Details

Apr 30, 2010

Mar 5, 2024

Jesse

Work

87

20

75 inches

145 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Feb 6, 1959

Hemet

California

Riverside County

No

8467

Riverside County Sheriff's Department- SIB

Jurupa Valley

California

Riverside County

92509

1500 Castellano Road, California

County

Law Enforcement

D-71047003

Riverside County Sheriff's Department- SIB

Blond/Strawberry

Green

Green

No

Oct 12, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP7000) and 3 other sources
Jesse Alvin Work, a 20-year-old man from Hemet, California, went missing on February 6, 1959. He and his 15-year-old girlfriend, Joyce Ramsey, disappeared together after attending a party and dropping off a friend late that night. The next day, Jesse's convertible was found abandoned on a dirt road near Hemet, but there was no sign of the couple.

Frank Phillip Kretz Jr. later confessed to the murders of both Jesse and Joyce as part of a violent crime spree. Kretz led authorities to Joyce's body in 1971, which was found buried in a shallow grave north of Indio, California. However, despite a thorough search, Jesse's body was never located. Kretz claimed Jesse's remains were buried along Highway 74 between Hemet and Idyllwild, but no evidence has ever been found to confirm this.

Although Kretz was convicted of the murders, Jesse’s body remains missing, and the case is still considered unresolved. Despite the passage of time, investigators continue to hold out hope that new information or evidence might one day bring closure to Jesse's family.
Last Seen: Feb 6, 1959

Links to Additional Sources (3)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Jesse Alvin Work - The Charley Project
  • Jesse Work | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • 438DMCA - Jesse Work - Doe Network

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (8)

    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.

    78%Possible
    John Doe — Corona, California - unidentified case UP8138
    John Doe — Corona, California
    UP8138 • Found Nov 26, 2009
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 65–75 vs 20 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%34 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 51 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'4" vs 6'3"
    Weight 100%145 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Blond
    Eyes 50%Blue vs Green
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Palm Desert, California
    UP7017 • Found Aug 30, 1998
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 20 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%34 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 40 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'2" vs 6'3"
    Weight 86%170 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
    Eyes 50%Blue vs Green
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Vista, California
    UP55876 • Found Jan 22, 2002
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 20 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 92%41 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 43 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'2" vs 6'3"
    Hair 70%Gray vs Blond
    76%Possible
    John Doe — San Diego, California
    UP99699 • Found Nov 14, 1979
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 20 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 84%68 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 21 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'2" vs 6'3"
    Weight 88%168 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Long Beach, California
    UP8840 • Found Jun 18, 1974
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 20 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 83%70 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 15 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'2" vs 6'3"
    Weight 65%184 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
    Eyes 70%Hazel vs Green
    75%Possible
    John Doe — La Jolla, California - unidentified case UP56809
    John Doe — La Jolla, California
    UP56809 • Found Feb 15, 1998
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 20 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 85%66 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 39 years after last seen
    Height 84%6'5" vs 6'3"
    Weight 100%152 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Blond
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Colton, California
    UP2835 • Found Jun 9, 1994
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 20 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%31 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 35 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'2" vs 6'3"
    Weight 100%153 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Walnut, California
    UP3873 • Found Jan 4, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 20 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 88%55 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 32 years after last seen
    Height 84%6'1" vs 6'3"
    Weight 100%150 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 50%Red vs Blond
    Eyes 50%Blue vs Green

    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)

    I’ve been delving into the case of Jesse Alvin Work and Joyce Ramsey recently, and I keep coming... ...Read More
    07/15/2023
    I’ve been diving into the mystery surrounding Jesse Alvin Work and Joyce Ramsey, and something that... ...Read More
    01/15/2023

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