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Jose Abel Munoz Leon Missing Person Case

Last seen in Santa Maria, California on Jul 3, 1988

Victim Details

Jan 24, 2026

Jan 24, 2026

Jose

Abel Munoz Leon

64

26

5'11 inches

155 lbs

Hispanic

Male

Jul 3, 1988

Santa Maria

California

Santa Maria

Santa Maria Police Departmen

805-928-3781

Oct 5, 2026

Case Description

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Summary based on 4 sources
Jose Abel Munoz Leon, a 26-year-old Hispanic male, was last seen in Santa Maria, California on July 3, 1988. On that day, he boarded a Greyhound bus at 7:45 a.m. with a planned route to Los Angeles, California. His final destination was intended to be San Andres Coru, Michoacan, Mexico, a journey that would have taken him through the city of Tijuana, Mexico. Leon never arrived at his destination in Mexico and has not been heard from since.

At the time of his disappearance, Leon was described as being 5'11" tall and weighing 155 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue sweatshirt, gray pants, and a white felt hat with a small brim. Few details are available regarding the circumstances of his disappearance.

The Santa Maria Police Department is the agency investigating his case. He was officially reported missing on September 12, 1988, over two months after he was last seen. His case remains unresolved, and his whereabouts are unknown.
Last Seen: Jul 3, 1988

Links to Additional Sources (4)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Jose Abel Munoz Leon - The Charley Project
  • 920DMCA - Jose Abel Munoz Leon - Doe Network
  • Jose Abel Munoz Leon | State of California - Department of Justice
  • Jose Abel Munoz Leon, 26, Santa Maria, 3 July 1988 | Websleuths

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (6)

    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 — California
    UP61434 • Found Oct 8, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 26 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 75%Same state
    TimingFound 15 months after last seen
    Weight 100%140–150 lb vs 155 lb
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Carlsbad, California - unidentified case UP128074
    John Doe — Carlsbad, California
    UP128074 • Found Jan 28, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 26
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 75%Same state
    TimingFound 7 months after last seen
    Weight 100%162 lb vs 155 lb
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Silverado, California
    UP7670 • Found Jul 25, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 26 when missing
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 75%Same state
    TimingFound 13 months after last seen
    Weight 100%140 lb vs 155 lb
    75%Possible
    John Doe — San Ysidro, California - unidentified case UP134559
    John Doe — San Ysidro, California
    UP134559 • Found Aug 13, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 26
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 75%Same state
    TimingFound 6 weeks after last seen
    Weight 100%164 lb vs 155 lb
    75%Possible
    John Doe — San Ysidro, California - unidentified case UP134557
    John Doe — San Ysidro, California
    UP134557 • Found Jun 26, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 26
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 75%Same state
    TimingFound same day as last seen
    Weight 100%152 lb vs 155 lb
    75%Possible
    John Doe — San Ysidro, California - unidentified case UP148707
    John Doe — San Ysidro, California
    UP148707 • Found Oct 29, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 26
    Race 100%Hispanic
    Location 75%Same state
    TimingFound 4 months after last seen
    Weight 93%176 lb vs 155 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've been digging into Jose Abel Munoz Leon's case, and something that's been bugging me is the... ...Read More
    03/01/2024

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