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302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP86107) and 2 other sources
On a summer day in August 1989, 15-year-old Jason William Boulton, a resident of St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada, was visiting Youngstown, New York. He was last seen on August 29, 1989, near Twelve Mile Creek in Ontario, Canada, where it is believed he accidentally drowned. It is thought that the current may have carried him out into Lake Ontario, which is why he is listed as missing from Youngstown, New York. At the time of his disappearance, Jason was described as a Caucasian male, with brown hair and brown eyes, standing at 5'3' and weighing 110 pounds.

The incident occurred while Jason was fishing at a popular spot near the Heywood Generating Station in Port Dalhousie. On that particular day, one of the turbines had been shut down for maintenance, causing an unusually strong water flow from Martindale Pond into the harbor. At approximately 2:40 p.m., Jason lost his footing and fell into the turbulent water. Bystanders made immediate efforts to rescue him; one person extended a hand while another ran to a nearby shop to call for emergency services. Another individual tried to use a fishing net to reach Jason, but the powerful current pulled him toward a control dam before he disappeared beneath the surface. His parents reported him missing that evening when he did not return home, as it was not uncommon for him to spend the day fishing and then go to a friend's house.

An extensive search was launched involving multiple agencies, including an Ontario Provincial Police dive team, the Canadian Coast Guard, the Niagara Police Marine Unit, and St. Catharines firefighters. Private boaters also joined the effort, and volunteer divers searched the area at the foot of the dam. Dragging operations continued for several days, but tragically, Jason was never found. A few days later, on September 2, 1989, a body was discovered floating in Lake Ontario near Lakeside Park in Port Dalhousie, but it was determined not to be Jason. Despite the exhaustive search and the passage of over three decades, Jason's body has never been recovered, leaving his family and community without closure. The case remains open, and both Canadian and U.S. authorities continue to encourage anyone with information to come forward.

Last Seen: Aug 29, 1989

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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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.

77%Possible
John Doe — Youngstown, New York
UP13069 • Found Jul 6, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 60%Est. 18–100 vs 15 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'3"
Weight 100%120 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Lewiston, New York
UP14272 • Found Jun 4, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–50 vs 15 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 68%5'6" vs 5'3"
Weight 84%130 lb vs 110 lb
75%Possible
John Doe — Sodus, New York
UP12343 • Found Oct 8, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 15 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 75%100 mi away, same state
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 84%5'1" vs 5'3"
Weight 98%122 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
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.