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

John Abbott Missing Person Case

Last seen in Memphis, Tennessee on Apr 29, 1998

Victim Details

Created

Feb 26, 2020

Case Added

Jan 8, 2024

First Name

John

Last Name

Abbott

Current Age

Age At Disappearance

Height

62 inches

Weight

110 lbs

Ethnicity

White / Caucasian

Gender

Male

Last Seen

Apr 29, 1998

City

Memphis

State

Tennessee

County

Shelby County

Zip Code

38117

Tribal Land

Agency ID

75807

Agency Name

Memphis Police Department

Agency City

Memphis

Agency State

Tennessee

Agency County

Shelby County

Agency Zip Code

38103

Agency Contact

Russell Stevens

Contact Job Title

Sergeant/Investigator

Agency Address

170 North Main Street, Tennessee

Agency Phone

9016363700

Agency Jurisdiction

Local

Agency Type

Law Enforcement

Agency Website

http://www.memphispolice.org/

Agency Case #

1908014130ME

Agency Report Date

May 1, 1998

Primary Agency

Memphis Police Department

Hair Color

Blond/Strawberry

Left Eye Color

Blue

Right Eye Color

Blue

Last Updated

Oct 13, 2026

Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!

Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP65733) and 1 other source

On a spring day in April of 1998, a 13-year-old boy named John Abbott told his mother he was heading to a friend's house to go skateboarding in Memphis, Tennessee. John, a young man with blond or strawberry-colored hair and blue eyes, stood at five feet two inches and weighed around 110 pounds. That conversation with his mother would be the last time he was seen or heard from. He never returned home from his friend's house, and a report of his disappearance was filed on May 1, 1998. The initial report and subsequent investigation have left his family with few answers and a profound sense of loss that has stretched over decades.

The circumstances surrounding John's disappearance remain unclear, with very little information publicly available. The official record from the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System simply states the narrative provided by his mother: he went to a friend's for skateboarding and never came back. Tragically, authorities have stated that he is presumed to have drowned, although the specific reasons for this presumption are not detailed in the publicly accessible case files. There is no information available regarding what he was wearing that day, or if he had any distinctive physical features that could aid in his identification. This lack of detail has made the search for answers even more challenging for those who knew and loved him.

The investigation into John Abbott's disappearance is being handled by the Memphis Police Department. Despite the passage of time, his case remains open, a silent testament to a family's enduring hope and a community's unanswered questions. The case file was created in the NamUs database on February 26, 2020, many years after he was last seen, in an ongoing effort to bring resolution to his case. The overview of this case is one of a sudden and unexplained absence, a young life interrupted under circumstances that have never been fully illuminated, leaving a void in the lives of his loved ones.
Last Seen: Apr 29, 1998

Links to Additional Sources (1)

See any mistakes? Let us know!

Missing Person / NamUs #MP65733 - Office of Justice Programs

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.

79%Possible

John Doe — Memphis, Tennessee

UP300 • Found May 23, 2003

View case

Sex ✓Male

Age 100%Est. 15–18 vs 13 when missing

Race 100%White

Location 100%9 mi away, same county

TimingFound 5 years after last seen

Height 100%5'2" vs 5'2"

Weight 71%137 lb vs 110 lb

Hair 10%Black vs Blond

Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue

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.

John Abbott Missing Person Case

Last seen in Memphis, Tennessee on Apr 29, 1998

Victim Details

Case Description

Links to Additional Sources (1)

Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

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