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John Butler Missing Person Case

Last seen in Newport Beach, California on Aug 21, 1961

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Victim Details

Mar 21, 2009

Jul 29, 2021

John

Butler

80

15

73 inches

145 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Aug 21, 1961

Newport Beach

California

Orange County

92663

2041

Santa Ana Police Department

Santa Ana

California

Orange County

92701

Victoria Jurado

Investigator

60 Civic Center Plaza, California

7142458665

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.santa-ana.org/departments/police/

12-11838

Santa Ana Police Department

6414

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 8, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP1753) and 6 other sources
John Arthur Butler, 15, was last seen on August 21, 1961, surfing off Newport Beach, California. Described as 6'1" tall and weighing 159 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes, John also had several acne scars on his face and went by the nickname "Johnny." On the day of his disappearance, his surfboard was recovered, but John himself has never been found. There were "questionable" markings on the surfboard, but no additional clues emerged about his whereabouts.

Despite extensive searches, it is widely believed that John may have drowned while surfing. His case is still classified as "lost/injured missing" due to the lack of definitive evidence. Various agencies, including the Santa Ana Police Department, continue to handle the investigation, but the case remains unsolved over six decades later. Age-progressed images have been created in the hopes of generating new leads.
Last Seen: Aug 21, 1961

Links to Additional Sources (6)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • John Arthur Butler - The Charley Project
  • John Butler - California Department of Justice
  • Johnny Butler | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • Missing: John Arthur Butler - 411 Gina
  • 4738DMCA - John Arthur Butler - Doe Network
  • John Butler Missing Since Aug 21

    • 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.

    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Wilmington, California - unidentified case UP72085
    John Doe — Wilmington, California
    UP72085 • Found Apr 22, 1973
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 17–25 vs 15 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 97%22 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'2"–5'10" vs 6'1"
    Weight 100%135–160 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Santa Ana, California - unidentified case UP7678
    John Doe — Santa Ana, California
    UP7678 • Found Jan 28, 1992
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 21–30 vs 15 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%7 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 30 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'0" vs 6'1"
    Weight 100%154 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Long Beach, California
    UP8840 • Found Jun 18, 1974
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 15 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 98%19 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 13 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'2" vs 6'1"
    Weight 65%184 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP3941 • Found Oct 28, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 24–36 vs 15 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%35 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 28 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"
    Weight 99%160 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Pasadena, California
    UP3957 • Found Aug 31, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 23–29 vs 15 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 92%39 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 28 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'1" vs 6'1"
    Weight 63%185 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Long Beach, California
    UP12439 • Found Sep 5, 1984
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 15 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 98%18 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 23 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"
    Weight 100%144 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP4270 • Found Jul 11, 1983
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 31–41 vs 15 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%35 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 22 years after last seen
    Height 84%6'3" vs 6'1"
    Weight 92%165 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Bloomington, California - unidentified case UP2613
    John Doe — Bloomington, California
    UP2613 • Found Jun 20, 1983
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 15–20 vs 15 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 91%43 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 22 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"
    Weight 100%146 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP14611
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP14611 • Found Sep 9, 2015
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 50 vs 15 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%35 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 54 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"
    Weight 100%145 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Coronado, California
    UP97678 • Found Sep 11, 1977
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 15–25 vs 15 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 82%77 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 16 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"
    Weight 100%136 lb vs 145 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown 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 (1)

    John Arthur Butler, known as Johnny, was 15 when he was last seen surfing off Newport Beach... ...Read More
    10/25/2024

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