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 the NamUs case record (MP101162) and 2 other sources
In the autumn of 1986, a dedicated physician and family man, 53-year-old Ellis Worthington List Jr., traveled from his home in Ohio to Scottsdale, Arizona, to attend a medical conference on arthritis. Following the conference, on October 29, 1986, the respected doctor, a male with graying red hair and hazel eyes who wore eyeglasses, was last seen in Globe, Arizona. He had embarked on a road trip with the intention of visiting a friend in Show Low, Arizona, a journey he unfortunately never completed. The last confirmed location for Ellis was the Copper Hills Inn in Globe, from which he checked out in the early morning hours. That same day, he made a call to his family, a seemingly routine request to renew his malpractice insurance. He was driving a rented gold 1986 Chevrolet Cavalier sedan with a Colorado license plate, ZAY-278, which has also never been found.

The day after his last confirmed sighting, on October 30, 1986, Ellis made one final phone call to his family at 7:00 a.m. During this call, he mentioned that he would be returning home on November 1st or 2nd, but he did not disclose his current location. This was the last time anyone heard from him. Described as a devoted family man and a reliable employee, his sudden and unexplained disappearance was entirely out of character. At the time he went missing, Ellis was a general practitioner, the medical director for several nursing homes, and also served as the head of the medical division for a General Motors plant in Warren, Ohio, highlighting a life of responsibility and commitment that made his vanishing all the more baffling to those who knew him. Some of his personal items were reportedly left behind in his Scottsdale hotel room, adding another layer of mystery to the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.

Decades have passed since Ellis List Jr. was last seen, and the case has grown cold, leaving his family with unanswered questions. He was a successful physician and surgeon, actively involved in his community as the chairman of the Trumbull County Board of Health and a leader in the county's medical society. A married father of five, his life was one of professional achievement and community involvement. The Gila County Sheriff's Office has been the investigating agency for this case, but despite their efforts, no significant leads have emerged to explain what happened to Ellis after he drove away in his rental car. The circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear, with no evidence of foul play or any indication that he left of his own accord. The mystery of what happened to Ellis Worthington List Jr. on that Arizona road trip continues to be an unsolved and perplexing case.

Last Seen: Oct 29, 1986

Possible Unidentified Matches (9)

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 — Globe vicinity, Arizona - unidentified case UP7206
John Doe — Globe vicinity, Arizona
UP7206 • Found Mar 17, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Hair 40%Brown vs Gray
80%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1918
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1918 • Found Mar 25, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 82%74 mi away, same state
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 88%155 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
78%Possible
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP11044
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona
UP11044 • Found Apr 7, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–60 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 80%82 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 97%164 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 30%Blue vs Hazel
78%Possible
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1919
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1919 • Found Jun 23, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 74%Est. 30–50 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 82%74 mi away, same state
TimingFound 20 months after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%191 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
77%Possible
John Doe — Casa Grande, Arizona - unidentified case UP15974
John Doe — Casa Grande, Arizona
UP15974 • Found May 24, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%66 mi away, same state
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%190 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 70%Black vs Gray
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
76%Possible
John Doe — Tempe, Arizona - unidentified case UP2042
John Doe — Tempe, Arizona
UP2042 • Found Mar 11, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%66 mi away, same state
TimingFound 16 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 45%122 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 30%Blue vs Hazel
75%Possible
John Doe — Rio Verde, Arizona - unidentified case UP13861
John Doe — Rio Verde, Arizona
UP13861 • Found Apr 28, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 87%56 mi away, same state
TimingFound 28 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Hair 70%Brown vs Gray
75%Possible
John Doe — Benson, Arizona - unidentified case UP7835
John Doe — Benson, Arizona
UP7835 • Found Oct 3, 1986
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 66%Est. 60–85 vs 53
Race 100%White
Location 74%103 mi away, same state
TimingFound same day as last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 58%131 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 70%Green vs Hazel
75%Possible
John Doe — Peoria, Arizona - unidentified case UP142022
John Doe — Peoria, Arizona
UP142022 • Found Feb 12, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 57–70 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 78%90 mi away, same state
TimingFound 38 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 82%120–150 lb vs 185 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray

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.