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Mark Dribin Missing Person Case

Last seen in Portland, Oregon on Jul 2, 1999

Victim Details

Dec 12, 2008

Jan 8, 2024

Mark

Dribin

69

42

66 inches

160 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Jul 2, 1999

Portland

Oregon

Multnomah County

No

6740

Portland Police Bureau

Portland

Oregon

Multnomah County

97204

Heidi Helwig

Detective

1111 Southwest 2nd Avenue, Oregon

5038230400

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.portlandoregon.gov/police/article/549803

99-63735

Jul 5, 1999

Portland Police Bureau

5061

Unknown

Hazel

Hazel

Sep 21, 2026


Area Last Seen:

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20-Year-Old Cold Case FINALLY SOLVED

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP876) and 13 other sources
In the summer of 1999, the life of 42-year-old Mark Jeffrey Dribin, a cargo worker for United Airlines in Portland, Oregon, took a tragic and mysterious turn. On July 2nd, he contacted his employer to request emergency leave for his shift that evening. This would be the last time anyone in his professional life heard from him. When he failed to appear for his next scheduled shift on July 5th, concerned coworkers went to his home to check on him. What they found, or rather didn't find, prompted them to report him missing, setting in motion an investigation that would span more than two decades. His last known public sighting was on July 3, 1999, at the Eagle Tavern in downtown Portland.

Upon entering Dribin's residence in northeast Portland, detectives with the Portland Police Bureau uncovered a grim scene. There was no sign of forced entry, but substantial forensic evidence, including a significant amount of blood spatter on the walls, indicated a violent struggle had occurred. It also appeared that someone had attempted to clean the area, suggesting a consciousness of the crime. Adding to the mystery, Dribin's car was missing from his home. Several days later, the vehicle was found abandoned in another part of the city, near southeast 43rd Avenue and Division Street. Despite the disturbing evidence found in his home, Dribin's body was nowhere to be found, leaving his family in a painful state of uncertainty. His father and older brother actively sought answers over the years, holding a news conference and offering a reward for information that might lead to a resolution.

For years, the case remained cold, a painful mystery for Dribin's loved ones. However, in March 2019, a break came when the Portland Police Bureau's Cold Case Unit reopened the investigation. They submitted DNA evidence collected from the crime scene for forensic genealogy analysis, a modern technique that had not been available at the time of the disappearance. This advanced analysis led investigators to a suspect, Christopher Lovrien. In May 2020, Lovrien was arrested and charged with Dribin's murder. A search of Lovrien's property uncovered the remains of another individual, leading to further charges. In January 2024, Lovrien pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in connection with Dribin's death and was sentenced to twenty years in prison. This plea brought a legal conclusion to the case, though the full story of Mark Dribin's final moments may never be completely known, and his remains have not been recovered. The investigation revealed that the killing was likely random, as there was no known connection between Dribin and Lovrien.
Last Seen: Jul 2, 1999

Links to Additional Sources (13)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Man gets life for 1999, 2020 murders; Dismembered remains ... - KPTV
  • MARK DRIBIN - Portland.gov
  • Christopher Lovrien charged with two homicides, other murder ...
  • Mark Jeffrey Dribin - The Charley Project
  • Man sentenced for 1999 cold case and 2020 crime, linked ... - KATU
  • UPDATE: Christopher Lovrien Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP876
  • Portland police make arrest in 21-year-old homicide ... - Oregon Live
  • PPB Cold Case Homicide Detectives Identify Suspect in 20 year-old ...
  • Mark Dribin went missing in 1999-- and his suspected killer ... - Reddit
  • 'I've got Satan in me': Portland man gets 20 years for 1999 killing ...
  • 20-Year-Old Cold Case FINALLY SOLVED | The Mark Dribin Case
  • GUILTY - OR - Mark Dribin, 42, Portland, 02 July 1999 *Christopher ...

    • 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.

    75%Possible
    John Doe — Seattle, Washington - unidentified case UP67767
    John Doe — Seattle, Washington
    UP67767 • Found Sep 6, 2001
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 42 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 66%145 mi away
    TimingFound 2 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5" vs 5'6"
    Weight 100%175 lb vs 160 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.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    I was browsing some old missing persons cases and stumbled upon the one about Mark Jeffrey Dribin.... ...Read More
    11/04/2024

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