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 (MP2420) and 7 other sources
In the early spring of 1982, a young man named Alexander 'Edwin' Shaw, aged 23, vanished from the small community of Wagram, North Carolina, leaving behind a perplexing mystery that has endured for decades. On March 15, 1982, his green 1972 Buick was discovered crashed into a pine tree off Highway 401. The scene was unsettlingly quiet; the keys were still in the ignition, and the headlights remained on, cutting through the aftermath of a recent heavy rainfall. Curiously, there was no sign of Alexander, who was known to his loved ones as Edwin. He was last seen wearing a white shirt and blue jeans. The car showed no evidence of blood or a struggle, adding to the bewilderment of his family and investigators.

In the days and weeks that followed, an extensive search was launched to find any trace of the missing man. The effort was massive, involving local law enforcement, the National Guard, and even the U.S. Army. Search parties scoured the surrounding area, including the nearby Lumber River, but their efforts yielded no clues as to his whereabouts. There were a couple of unconfirmed sightings of a man resembling Edwin walking along a highway south of Wagram the day after the accident, but these leads never materialized into anything concrete. His father, who has since passed away, held onto the theory that his son might have suffered a head injury in the crash, leading to amnesia. This possibility, however, remained just one of many in a case with few answers.

Decades have passed since Alexander Shaw’s disappearance, yet the case remains unsolved. He was a young man with a variety of interests, having worked in theater, mobile home servicing, and broadcast advertising. He was also an avid distance runner and a frequent blood donor. Despite the passage of time, his family has continued to seek closure. A reward for information leading to a resolution in his case has been offered, a testament to their enduring hope for answers. The discovery of his car on that rainy March night marked the beginning of an agonizing journey for his loved ones, a journey that continues as they await any information that might finally shed light on what happened to him. The circumstances surrounding the crash and his subsequent disappearance are suspicious, and foul play is suspected as a possibility in his case.

Last Seen: Mar 15, 1982

Possible Unidentified Matches (9)

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.

79%Possible
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 88%54 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Hair 50%Brown vs Red
78%Possible
John Doe — Raeford, North Carolina
UP2238 • Found Jan 21, 1992
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–5'11"
77%Possible
John Doe — Fayetteville, North Carolina - unidentified case UP6263
John Doe — Fayetteville, North Carolina
UP6263 • Found Aug 3, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%30 mi away, same state
TimingFound 20 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 84%165 lb vs 135–140 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Red
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
77%Possible
John Doe — Oakridge, North Carolina - unidentified case UP2646
John Doe — Oakridge, North Carolina
UP2646 • Found Feb 1, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 76%95 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 100%143 lb vs 135–140 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Red
77%Possible
John Doe — Lumberton, North Carolina
UP2237 • Found Sep 22, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 95%Est. 30–40 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%28 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Hair 50%Brown vs Red
75%Possible
John Doe — Red Springs, North Carolina
UP6272 • Found Nov 22, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 22 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"–5'11"
75%Possible
John Doe — Raleigh, North Carolina
UP2793 • Found Sep 8, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 17–25 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 82%74 mi away, same state
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–5'11"
75%Possible
John Doe — Newton Grove, North Carolina
UP8704 • Found Oct 2, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 86%60 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 100%150 lb vs 135–140 lb
Hair 15%Black vs Red
75%Possible
John Doe — Chesapeake, Virginia - unidentified case UP9340
John Doe — Chesapeake, Virginia
UP9340 • Found Nov 19, 1983
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 23 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 53%218 mi away
TimingFound 20 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7"–5'9" vs 5'10"–5'11"
Weight 100%140–150 lb vs 135–140 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Red

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.