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Jason Cruz Missing Person Case

Last seen in Vancouver, Washington on May 27, 1998

Victim Details

Jan 22, 2025

Jan 27, 2025

Jason

Cruz

52

24

73 inches

140 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

May 27, 1998

Vancouver

Washington

Clark County

Vancouver

No

163334

Clark County Sheriff's Office

Vancouver

Washington

Clark County

98666

Michael Ramon

Investigator

707 West 13th Street, Washington

3603972211

County

Law Enforcement

1998-9555

May 27, 1998

Clark County Sheriff's Office

Brown

Blue

Blue

Sep 25, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP137104) and 1 other source
In the late spring of 1998, concern began to grow for 24-year-old Jason Lee Cruz in Vancouver, Washington. Family members realized that no one had seen or heard from him for about a week, which was out of character. On May 27, 1998, they officially reported him as a missing person, setting in motion an investigation into his sudden and troubling disappearance. From the outset, detectives with the Clark County Sheriff's Office suspected foul play. Information gathered early in the case led them to the grim conclusion that Jason had likely been murdered, with the crime possibly occurring somewhere within the city of Vancouver itself.

As the investigation into Jason's disappearance continued, years passed without any significant breakthroughs. The case grew cold, leaving his family with unanswered questions and the constant pain of not knowing what had become of him. The troubling belief that he had met a violent end lingered, but without his discovery, there was little to advance the investigation. Then, several years after he vanished, a discovery was made in the rugged, mountainous terrain of Skamania County. A group of hunters exploring the area stumbled upon human remains, which were later identified as the skull and jaw of Jason Lee Cruz. This discovery confirmed the long-held fears of both his family and investigators: Jason was deceased.

The location where his partial remains were found, far from where he was last seen, added another layer of complexity to the case. Despite the significant discovery, the remainder of Jason's body has never been located, leaving a void in the narrative of his final days. Investigators were now dealing with a confirmed homicide, but the trail for those responsible had grown cold over the years. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death remain a mystery. The case is now considered an unsolved homicide, a cold case that continues to await the piece of information that might finally bring clarity and justice for Jason Lee Cruz and the loved ones he left behind.
Last Seen: May 27, 1998

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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  • Jason Cruz Missing Person Flyer | Vancouver, WA - CaseTrace

    • 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.

    77%Possible
    John Doe — Oregon - unidentified case UP10109
    John Doe — Oregon
    UP10109 • Found Apr 2, 2012
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 24 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 85%66 mi away
    TimingFound 14 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'0" vs 6'1"
    Weight 40%190 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 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 (2)

    Has anyone dug into the specific location where the skull was found in Skamania County? I know it’s... ...Read More
    06/02/2024
    I’ve been thinking a lot about the area where the victim's skull was found in Skamania County. It's... ...Read More
    05/15/2023

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