Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 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 the NamUs case record (MP162381) and 1 other source
In the winter of 2023, a 47-year-old man named David Eugene Cole vanished from Columbus, Ohio. He was last seen on the first of December, and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain largely unknown to the public. The Columbus Division of Police was officially brought into the case when a report was filed on April 22, 2025, well over a year after he was last seen. A formal case file was created with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System on September 1, 2026, to aid in the investigation.

David Cole is described as a white male, standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. At the time he went missing, he was 47 years old. Details regarding what he was last seen wearing or any personal items he may have had with him have not been publicly released. The lack of this information presents significant challenges for those who are searching for him and for the community members who wish to help.

The investigation into David Cole's disappearance is being handled by the Columbus Division of Police, with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation also listed as an involved agency. Publicly available information about the case is scarce, with the official record offering only a brief and somber summary: "David Cole was last seen in Columbus, OH in December of 2023". This lack of detail leaves family, friends, and the wider community with many unanswered questions and a profound sense of uncertainty. The case highlights the silent crisis of missing persons, where the absence of information can be as painful as the absence of the individual. The overview of this case is one of an unsettling disappearance with no publicly known witnesses, evidence, or clear timeline of events following the last day he was seen.

Last Seen: Dec 1, 2023

Links to Additional Sources (1)

See any mistakes? Let us know!

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.

76%Possible
John Doe — Columbus, Ohio
UP162667 • Found Aug 18, 2026
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 60%Est. 18–100 vs 47 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 68%5'4" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%148 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Black
Eyes 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.