Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
298 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 (MP77404) and 6 other sources
On or about January 14, 1986, a 24-year-old woman named Deborah Ann McKenna vanished from the city of Elizabeth, New Jersey. Known to her loved ones as 'Debbie' or 'Coco,' she was last seen within the city and has not been heard from since. The circumstances surrounding her disappearance are limited, leaving a painful void of information for those who knew her. At the time she went missing, she was a young woman with her entire life ahead of her, and her sudden absence has remained an unresolved mystery for decades. The case was officially created in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System years later, highlighting the enduring effort to uncover what happened to her.

Deborah was a white female with brown, straight, collar-length hair and brown eyes. She stood at 5 feet 2 inches tall and weighed between 125 and 130 pounds. She had several distinguishing physical characteristics, including scars on her wrists and a previously fractured skull. She was known to wear a thick leather bracelet bearing her nickname, 'Coco.' Friends and family also knew that Deborah faced personal struggles, including a history of drug and alcohol abuse and previous suicide attempts, which adds a layer of concern to her case. These details, while personal, are crucial in building a complete picture of who Deborah was and the potential vulnerabilities she faced at the time of her disappearance.

The investigation into Deborah McKenna's disappearance is handled by the Elizabeth Police Department. Despite the passage of many years, her case remains open, a silent testament to a life interrupted without explanation. The available information about what might have happened to her is scarce. No witnesses or concrete leads have been publicly detailed, leaving only the chilling fact that one day she was there, and the next she was gone. The overview of this case is one of profound uncertainty; a young woman vanished, and the reasons why are lost to time. Her loved ones have been left to navigate decades of ambiguity, holding on to the hope of one day finding answers.

Last Seen: Jan 14, 1986

Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

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.

85%Strong
Jane Doe — Staten Island, New York - unidentified case UP6955
Jane Doe — Staten Island, New York
UP6955 • Found Sep 6, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%8 mi away
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%5'4" vs 5'2"
Weight 96%110 lb vs 125–130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP6805
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP6805 • Found May 10, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 16–25 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%14 mi away
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2" vs 5'2"
Weight 100%115 lb vs 125–130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
Jane Doe — Hackensack, New Jersey
UP1617 • Found Jul 19, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%17 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2" vs 5'2"
Weight 100%137 lb vs 125–130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6124
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP6124 • Found May 8, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"
Weight 100%125 lb vs 125–130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP2771
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP2771 • Found Apr 7, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%14 mi away
TimingFound 18 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1" vs 5'2"
Weight 75%96 lb vs 125–130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6326
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP6326 • Found Nov 9, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 23–33 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%15 mi away
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 84%5'0" vs 5'2"
Weight 89%105 lb vs 125–130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
Jane Doe — Medford, New York
UP13134 • Found Dec 7, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%64 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1" vs 5'2"
Weight 100%135 lb vs 125–130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP14585
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP14585 • Found Sep 30, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%14 mi away
TimingFound 29 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"
Weight 100%117 lb vs 125–130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP6822
Jane Doe — Queens, New York
UP6822 • Found Aug 17, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%22 mi away
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1" vs 5'2"
Weight 100%118 lb vs 125–130 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7801
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP7801 • Found May 5, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 24 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%15 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"
Weight 73%95 lb vs 125–130 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.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.