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 (MP128268) and 6 other sources
Ronald Travnick, a 28-year-old man from Santa Cruz, California, went missing on August 25, 1974. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance were later revealed to be far more sinister than initially thought. Ronald was lured to a residence in the Felton area by an individual named Taylor, who was eventually convicted of his murder. According to the case details, Taylor shot Ronald Travnick five times with a .45 caliber handgun. Despite the conviction, Ronald's body was never found, which adds a sense of mystery and sadness to the case, making it an enduring cold case in Santa Cruz County's history.

The case garnered significant local attention during the trial, and the Santa Cruz community has been engaged with the search for justice for Ronald ever since. Taylor, who was found guilty of the crime, has been denied parole multiple times over the years. The murder of Ronald Travnick stands as one of the many tragic events that occurred in Santa Cruz during the 1970s, a period that saw a series of high-profile violent crimes in the area, earning it a grim reputation during that time.

The Santa Cruz Police Department continues to acknowledge such cold cases, emphasizing the importance of bringing closure to the families of victims. They encourage anyone with information regarding the case or similar unsolved homicides to contact their Cold Case Unit, which remains actively involved in re-examining evidence and seeking new leads to solve these tragic mysteries. The pursuit of justice for victims like Ronald Travnick is part of the department’s broader effort to provide closure for families and restore a sense of peace to the community.

Last Seen: Aug 25, 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 — Unincorporated, California
UP10662 • Found Jun 7, 1978
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%38 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
81%Moderate
John Doe — San Jose, California
UP127425 • Found Jun 14, 1997
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%25 mi away, same state
TimingFound 23 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%139 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Sausalito, California
UP17718 • Found Sep 9, 1990
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%66 mi away, same state
TimingFound 16 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 70%Gray vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — San Martin, California
UP123466 • Found Apr 13, 1986
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–32 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%24 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%155 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — Berkeley, California - unidentified case UP53302
John Doe — Berkeley, California
UP53302 • Found Mar 19, 1985
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%63 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%137 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5872 • Found Oct 16, 1981
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 87%59 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%153 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5842 • Found Mar 17, 1975
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 28
Race 100%White
Location 87%59 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 months after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 87%175 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 50%Red vs Brown
Eyes 70%Gray vs Blue
80%Moderate
John Doe — California
UP3058 • Found Mar 3, 1975
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Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 28
Race 100%White
Location 100%6 mi away, same county
TimingFound 6 months after last seen
Height 84%6'0" vs 5'10"
Weight 80%180 lb vs 150 lb
79%Possible
John Doe — San Jose, California
UP127124 • Found Sep 24, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%28 mi away, same state
TimingFound 21 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5"–5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 75%116 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 70%Gray vs Blue
79%Possible
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5843 • Found Aug 3, 1975
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 28
Race 100%White
Location 87%59 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 91%172 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue

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.