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John P. Katsilieris missing person case profile photo

John P. Katsilieris Missing Person Case

Last seen in Santa Ana, California on Aug 16, 1985

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Victim Details

Jan 24, 2026

Jan 24, 2026

John

P. Katsilieris

58

17

6'0 - 6'2 inches

140 lbs

White

Male

Aug 16, 1985

Santa Ana

California

Santa Ana

Santa Ana Police Department

Sep 22, 2026

Case Description

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Summary based on 11 sources
John P. Katsilieris, a 17-year-old male, disappeared after departing from his family's home in Oak Park, Illinois, in August 1985. When he left, he took five of his guitars with him, leading to speculation that he was traveling to California to pursue a career in music. He was 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed between 140 and 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He may have had a mustache, beard, or goatee.

Katsilieris was last seen on August 16, 1985, in Santa Ana, California. On the day of his last sighting, he was wearing blue jeans and sneakers. Since that day, there have been no reported sightings or any communication from him.

The circumstances surrounding John P. Katsilieris's disappearance are considered suspicious, and few details have been made public. The Santa Ana Police Department in California is the agency investigating his case. Despite the passage of time, his case remains an active investigation.
Last Seen: Aug 16, 1985

Links to Additional Sources (11)

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  • John P. Katsilieris - The Charley Project
  • John Katsilieris | International Missing Persons Wiki - Fandom
  • ILLINOIS MISSING COLD CASES John P. Katsilieris August 15 ...
  • IL - John Katsilieris, 17, Oak Park, 15 Aug 1985 | Websleuths
  • John P. Katsilieris
  • CA - John P. Katsilieris (17) - Santa Ana CA, 1985 | Websleuths
  • John Katsilieris | State of California - Department of Justice
  • John Katsilieris Missing from Oak Park, Illinois - MPIA
  • Missing - John was last seen at his home in Oak Park ... - Facebook
  • IL - John Katsilieris, 17, Oak Park, 15 Aug 1985 | Page 2 | Websleuths
  • John was last seen at his home in Oak Park, Illinois on August 15 ...

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

    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 — Sacramento, California
    UP2398 • Found Aug 11, 1986
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 17
    Race 100%White
    Location 75%Same state
    TimingFound 12 months after last seen
    Weight 100%149 lb vs 140 lb
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP4180 • Found Dec 22, 1985
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 16–25 vs 17
    Race 100%White
    Location 75%Same state
    TimingFound 4 months after last seen
    Weight 100%134 lb vs 140 lb
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Victorville, California
    UP2603 • Found Oct 23, 1985
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 16–30 vs 17
    Race 100%White
    Location 75%Same state
    TimingFound 2 months after last seen
    Weight 100%136 lb vs 140 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.

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    Forum Posts (2)

    Hey everyone, I was browsing through some old case files and came across the mysterious... ...Read More
    01/05/2025
    Just stumbled upon this case—John P. Katsilieris. It's such a mind-bender. Has anyone ever come... ...Read More
    01/21/2024

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