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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 (MP3287) and 3 other sources
In the autumn of 1982, a family was forever changed when Donald Gatti, a 52-year-old man from New Britain, Connecticut, seemingly vanished. He was last seen on November 5, 1982. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a Caucasian male, standing 5'10' and weighing around 200 pounds, with both brown hair and brown eyes. The day he went missing began like any other, but as hours turned into days, the silence from Donald became a source of profound worry for those who knew him, marking the beginning of a mystery that would span decades.

The circumstances surrounding Donald Gatti's disappearance remain largely unknown, leaving investigators with very little information to proceed with in the initial stages. Authorities have noted that Gatti had a known gambling problem, which has been considered a potential factor in why he went missing. Despite this lead, the investigation struggled to gain traction, and concrete evidence explaining his sudden absence never materialized. The lack of clarity left his loved ones in a painful state of limbo, grappling with unanswered questions and the deep void left by his departure from their lives. The case eventually grew cold, with few new developments emerging for many years.

For decades, the case of Donald Gatti remained a quiet, unsolved file in the records of the New Britain Police Department. His case is listed in national missing persons databases, a persistent digital reminder of a life interrupted. The passage of time did little to heal the wounds of not knowing what happened, a common and heartbreaking reality for families of the missing. Decades after he was last seen, a potential breakthrough emerged when a sunken vehicle was discovered with a license plate number that matched Gatti's. This somber discovery offered a possible, though tragic, answer to the questions that had lingered for forty years. Despite this development, the case officially continues to seek information, an enduring mystery that began with one man's disappearance on a fall day in Connecticut.

Last Seen: Nov 5, 1982

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.

80%Moderate
John Doe — Staten Island, New York - unidentified case UP8482
John Doe — Staten Island, New York
UP8482 • Found Aug 29, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 74%104 mi away
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%195 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7292
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7292 • Found Dec 12, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–65 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 77%91 mi away
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%215 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP7062
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP7062 • Found Dec 11, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 78%91 mi away
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 85%165 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Waterbury, Connecticut
UP94477 • Found Aug 13, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%15 mi away, same state
TimingFound 40 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7"–6'1" vs 5'10"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Weehawken, New Jersey - unidentified case UP1674
John Doe — Weehawken, New Jersey
UP1674 • Found Nov 6, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 78%90 mi away
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%195 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5558
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5558 • Found Oct 5, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 77%91 mi away
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 99%179 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5637
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5637 • Found Nov 2, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 77%91 mi away
TimingFound 23 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%212 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5617
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5617 • Found Mar 2, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 78%91 mi away
TimingFound 22 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 72%152 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5784
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5784 • Found Jul 16, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 78%91 mi away
TimingFound 20 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 70%150 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7947
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7947 • Found Feb 20, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–75 vs 52 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 77%91 mi away
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%210 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 60%Hazel 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.