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Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP149905)
Terry Mark Cooter, a 62-year-old man from Novato, California, was last known to have left his residence on November 10, 2017, planning a 3–4 day fishing trip to the Redding area. Publicly available case data list him as a white male, approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall and 165 pounds, with blond/strawberry hair and brown eyes. The investigating jurisdiction associated with his case is Shasta County.

According to the same public case listing, his vehicle was later discovered wrecked down a ravine in a rural area of Montgomery Creek, Shasta County. Personal belongings believed to be his were found approximately 150 feet further down the ravine, east of the vehicle, suggesting a hazardous crash site in steep terrain. These details underscore the difficult conditions searchers likely faced in the aftermath.

A separate public record on the California Department of Justice’s Missing Persons site presently returns “This record was not found” for his name, which can occur for administrative reasons and does not by itself confirm resolution. His case also appears in The Charley Project’s update archive dated November 11, 2018, indicating it met that project’s threshold for long-term missing cases and was publicized to broaden awareness.

Shasta County authorities are listed as the investigating agency for this disappearance, and statewide resources remain available for tips and information sharing. Members of the public who may know anything about Terry’s plans, routes, or possible stops between Novato and the Redding/Montgomery Creek area are encouraged to contact the Shasta County Sheriff’s Office and to use the California DOJ’s missing-person reporting portal and hotline so that even small details can be combined with official records.

Last Seen: Nov 10, 2017

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Possible Unidentified Matches (5)

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 — San Francisco, California
UP91361 • Found Feb 5, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 62 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%19 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%5'9" vs 5'11"
Weight 88%191 lb vs 165 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Blond
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Milpitas, California - unidentified case UP59937
John Doe — Milpitas, California
UP59937 • Found Sep 29, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–70 vs 62
Race 100%White
Location 88%54 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 months after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Weight 55%115 lb vs 165 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Blond
Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — San Jose, California - unidentified case UP57876
John Doe — San Jose, California
UP57876 • Found Oct 15, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 62
Race 100%White
Location 86%60 mi away, same state
TimingFound same day as last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Weight 0%260 lb vs 165 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Blond
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Milpitas, California
UP72156 • Found Jun 14, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 87%Est. 50–60 vs 62
Race 100%White
Location 88%54 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7"–5'11" vs 5'11"
75%Possible
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP147165 • Found Jun 17, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 60%Est. 18–100 vs 62 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%20 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%172 lb vs 165 lb
Hair 10%Black 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.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.