298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Paul Head Missing Person Case

Last seen in San Luis Obispo, California on Sep 9, 1999

Victim Details

Created

Dec 12, 2008

Case Added

Oct 17, 2023

First Name

Paul

Last Name

Head

Current Age

Age At Disappearance

Height

75 inches

Weight

215 lbs

Ethnicity

White / Caucasian

Gender

Male

Last Seen

Sep 9, 1999

City

San Luis Obispo

State

California

County

San Luis Obispo County

Agency ID

7042

Agency Name

Fresno County Sheriff's Office

Agency City

Fresno

Agency State

California

Agency County

Fresno County

Agency Zip Code

93721

Agency Contact

Javier Puente

Contact Job Title

Missing Person Detective

Agency Address

2200 Fresno Street, California

Agency Phone

5596008400

Agency Jurisdiction

County

Agency Type

Law Enforcement

Agency Website

https://www.fresnosheriff.org/

Agency Case #

99-21845

Agency Report Date

Nov 5, 1999

Primary Agency

Fresno County Sheriff's Office

Case Contributors

5083

Hair Color

Blond/Strawberry

Left Eye Color

Blue

Right Eye Color

Blue

Last Updated

Oct 5, 2026

Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!

Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP1254) and 7 other sources

Paul Matthew Head, a 32-year-old man from San Luis Obispo, California, was last seen on September 9, 1999, at his family’s home. He had planned a camping trip to the Sierra National Forest with an acquaintance, which was the last time anyone saw him. According to the friend who accompanied him, they drank alcohol and smoked marijuana before going to sleep. The friend later awoke to find Head acting strangely, throwing items out of their tent, and eventually running off into the woods near Dinky Creek, wearing only his underwear and a sweatshirt.

Despite searching for a brief time, the friend reported Head missing the next day after returning to the campsite, thinking he would come back. Head never returned, and an intensive search, including air, ground, and underwater efforts, was conducted, but no trace of him was found. Authorities have not ruled out foul play, but no definitive answers have emerged in the decades since his disappearance.

Head worked as a breakfast cook at the Big Sky Cafe in San Luis Obispo and was described as friendly, intelligent, and even-tempered. His disappearance remains unsolved, and investigators continue to seek information about his fate.
Last Seen: Sep 9, 1999

Links to Additional Sources (7)

See any mistakes? Let us know!

Private Investigations for the Missing's post - Facebook

Paul Matthew Head Disappeared Running Into The Woods

3965DMCA - Paul Matthew Head - Doe Network

Missing Person / NamUs #MP1254

Head,Paul Matthew September 9,1999 - Tapatalk

Paul Matthew Head - The Charley Project

Paul Matthew Head | 1999 | San Luis Obispo : r/SLOcoldcases

Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

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 — Fresno, California

UP15816 • Found Jul 7, 2000

View case

Sex ✓Male

Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 32

Race 100%White

Location 72%114 mi away, same state

TimingFound 10 months after last seen

Height 68%6'0" vs 6'3"

Weight 99%238 lb vs 215 lb

Hair 40%Gray vs Blond

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.

Paul Head Missing Person Case

Last seen in San Luis Obispo, California on Sep 9, 1999

Victim Details

Case Description

Links to Additional Sources (7)

Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

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Forum Posts (3)

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