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 (MP1215) and 6 other sources
James Nicholas Gray, a 63-year-old computer scientist, went missing on January 28, 2007, after setting sail from San Francisco on his 40-foot yacht, *Tenacious*. He was on a solo voyage to the Farallon Islands, about 27 miles off the coast, intending to scatter his mother's ashes. Conditions for sailing were reportedly excellent that day, with calm seas and clear weather. Gray made a phone call to his family that morning, but he was not heard from again.

When Gray failed to return as scheduled, his wife reported him missing. Despite an extensive search by the U.S. Coast Guard and other agencies, no trace of Gray or his yacht was ever found. His boat was equipped with advanced communication and safety devices, including an emergency beacon, but no distress signals were detected. Authorities believe that Gray likely suffered an accident at sea, though no foul play is suspected.

James Gray was a renowned figure in the field of computer science, known for his contributions to database systems, and his disappearance remains a mystery. He was declared legally dead in 2012, though his case is still unresolved.

Last Seen: Jan 28, 2007

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

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.

76%Possible
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP91361 • Found Feb 5, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 63 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 20%5'9" vs 6'3"
Weight 100%191 lb vs 190 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Sausalito, California
UP12220 • Found May 15, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 80%Est. 45–60 vs 63 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 68%6'0" vs 6'3"
Weight 100%180 lb vs 190 lb
75%Possible
John Doe — San Jose, California - unidentified case UP57876
John Doe — San Jose, California
UP57876 • Found Oct 15, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 94%Est. 48–62 vs 63 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 91%45 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 52%5'11" vs 6'3"
Weight 37%260 lb vs 190 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
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.