Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on 3 sources
In the early summer of 2017, the life of John William Shankland, a 59-year-old man from Buffalo, New York, took a deeply unsettling turn. On June 18th of that year, Mr. Shankland was last seen leaving his home in the city. At the time he went missing, he was described as a white male with white hair and blue eyes, standing between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, and weighing approximately 140 to 150 pounds. It is believed he may have been wearing a yellow t-shirt with the words 'MS Volunteer 2010' on the back, along with blue jeans. The day he vanished began without any publicly known signs of distress or unusual circumstances, leaving friends, family, and investigators with a profound sense of uncertainty.

The circumstances surrounding his departure from his residence remain largely unknown to the public. There is no available information detailing his state of mind, his intended destination, or if he had plans to meet with anyone. This lack of a clear timeline or purpose for his trip has been a significant challenge in the investigation. The most critical development in the case came after he was reported missing, when his vehicle was discovered abandoned in Niagara Falls, New York. The discovery of his car in a different city provided a geographical marker but offered no resolution, instead deepening the mystery of his whereabouts and what might have happened to him after he left Buffalo.

The considerable distance between where he was last seen and where his vehicle was found has left a void of information. It is not publicly known who drove the car to Niagara Falls or what became of Mr. Shankland after the vehicle was left. Despite the passage of time, no significant leads have been reported that could illuminate his path after his car was abandoned. The case of John Shankland is a distressing account of a man who left his home one day and has not been seen or heard from since. The few available facts—his departure from Buffalo and the subsequent discovery of his car in Niagara Falls—serve as the only tangible pieces of a puzzle that remains incomplete, leaving a painful absence for those who await answers.

Last Seen: Jun 17, 2017

Possible Unidentified Matches (8)

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.

79%Possible
John Doe — Staten Island, New York - unidentified case UP75898
John Doe — Staten Island, New York
UP75898 • Found Jul 3, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 75%Same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%145 lb vs 141 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
78%Possible
John Doe — New Rochelle, New York
UP109779 • Found May 4, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 75%Same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"
Weight 23%82 lb vs 141 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Clothing: both mention jean
78%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP86656
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP86656 • Found Nov 14, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 65–90 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 75%Same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 90%120 lb vs 141 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
76%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP75991
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP75991 • Found Nov 19, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–75 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 75%Same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%143 lb vs 141 lb
Hair 40%Brown vs Gray
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
Clothing: both mention jean
76%Possible
John Doe — Buffalo, New York
UP53468 • Found Nov 4, 2017
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 60%Est. 40–70 vs 59
Race 100%White
Location 75%Same state
TimingFound 5 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 87%164 lb vs 141 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Clothing: both mention jean
75%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP80386
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP80386 • Found May 2, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 55–80 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 75%Same state
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'8"
Weight 27%198 lb vs 141 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Blue vs Blue
75%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP17506
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP17506 • Found Feb 5, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 55–75 vs 59
Race 100%White
Location 75%Same state
TimingFound 8 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 43%190 lb vs 141 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue
75%Possible
John Doe — Manhattan, New York - unidentified case UP131734
John Doe — Manhattan, New York
UP131734 • Found Sep 30, 2024
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 75%Same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%143 lb vs 141 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.