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 (MP1752) and 3 other sources
Christopher Martin King, a 24-year-old from Hampton, Virginia, was last seen on August 2, 1974, near the intersection of Route 10 and Route 395 in the Rialto-San Bernardino area of California. He had been traveling with plans to head toward Mexico. At the time of his disappearance, King was believed to be en route to La Paz, Baja California, via a bus he boarded in Tijuana. His ultimate destination was potentially the Yucatan Peninsula, with plans to explore various parts of Mexico, including Guadalajara, Mexico City, Merida, and Isla Mujeres. His last confirmed sighting was at the Tijuana border crossing, but after that, he vanished without a trace.

At the time of his disappearance, King was well-prepared for his travels, carrying a red nylon backpack with a full set of camping gear, along with summer clothing such as sport shirts, jeans, cut-offs, and Wallabee desert boots. King had sandy blond hair, blue eyes, and was known to wear glasses with wide metal frames. A distinguishing birthmark on his abdomen was one of his unique identifying features. He had previously been residing in Hampton, Virginia, and his reasons for embarking on this journey to Mexico remain unclear. His case has perplexed investigators, and despite several decades passing, no new leads have emerged.

The circumstances surrounding King's disappearance remain a mystery, and authorities have speculated that he may have encountered trouble during his travels across Mexico. Various attempts, including DNA and fingerprint submissions, have been made to locate him, but no concrete evidence has surfaced to indicate what happened after he crossed into Mexico. His family and investigators continue to seek information, hoping to one day find answers to this enduring cold case.

Last Seen: Aug 2, 1974

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 — California
UP4441 • Found Jun 27, 1977
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 89%50 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"–5'9"
Weight 100%145–165 lb vs 150 lb
80%Moderate
John Doe — Santa Monica, California
UP9469 • Found Apr 19, 1978
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%65 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"–5'9"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150 lb
80%Moderate
John Doe — La Puente, California
UP10813 • Found Mar 1, 1978
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–25 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%34 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"–5'9"
Weight 95%131 lb vs 150 lb
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — El Toro, California - unidentified case UP7650
John Doe — El Toro, California
UP7650 • Found Nov 21, 1977
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%37 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"–5'9"
Weight 100%137 lb vs 150 lb
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Menifee, California
UP100667 • Found Sep 9, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%30 mi away, same state
TimingFound 47 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"–5'9"
Weight 100%151 lb vs 150 lb
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Littlerock, California
UP57084 • Found Sep 20, 1980
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 23–30 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 91%45 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9"–6'0" vs 5'8"–5'9"
79%Possible
John Doe — Cabazon, California
UP7047 • Found Nov 28, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%36 mi away, same state
TimingFound 19 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'8"–5'9"
Weight 100%140 lb vs 150 lb
79%Possible
John Doe — Ontario, California - unidentified case UP7586
John Doe — Ontario, California
UP7586 • Found Feb 4, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%13 mi away, same county
TimingFound 16 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"–5'9"
Weight 97%167 lb vs 150 lb
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — Anaheim, California - unidentified case UP7659
John Doe — Anaheim, California
UP7659 • Found Dec 6, 1986
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%36 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"–5'9"
Weight 100%136 lb vs 150 lb
Eyes 30%Hazel vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — California
UP4168 • Found May 10, 1986
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 32–42 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 89%50 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"–5'9"
Weight 100%161 lb vs 150 lb

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.