Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
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 (MP70940) and 4 other sources
In the late afternoon of November 20, 1997, 45-year-old Curtis Allen was walking home along West End Boulevard in Emporia, Virginia. He had last been seen between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. at the Zipmart on Main Street. As he made his way on foot, a person in a vehicle stopped and offered him a ride. Curtis accepted, got into the vehicle, and has not been seen or heard from since that day. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a brown flannel shirt and blue jeans.

Curtis, a former Marine and a father to three children, was known to have epilepsy and required medication for his condition. His disappearance was marked by an unsettling lack of communication and activity. Following November 20, 1997, all of his Social Security disability checks, which he received due to a construction-related injury, remained uncashed. This was a significant red flag for his family and investigators, as it suggested an abrupt and unplanned departure from his normal life and routines. The Emporia Police Department was tasked with the investigation into his sudden vanishing.

Decades have passed since Curtis Allen was last seen, and his case has grown cold, leaving his loved ones without answers. The initial investigation into his disappearance yielded few leads, and the identity of the person who offered him a ride remains unknown. The circumstances surrounding his acceptance of the ride and the events that followed are a mystery. With no significant breakthroughs in the case over the years, the Emporia Police Department continues to classify him as a missing person, and the family is left to wonder what became of Curtis after he stepped into that vehicle on a November afternoon.

Last Seen: Nov 20, 1997

Possible Unidentified Matches (4)

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.

80%Moderate
John Doe — Norfolk, Virginia
UP118834 • Found Apr 6, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 42–46 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 83%72 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'3" vs 5'2"
Weight 88%134 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Washington D.C., District of Columbia - unidentified case UP14414 View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 64%156 mi away
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1" vs 5'2"
Weight 88%134 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Richmond, Virginia - unidentified case UP6169
John Doe — Richmond, Virginia
UP6169 • Found Aug 27, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 87%57 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2"–5'5" vs 5'2"
76%Possible
John Doe — Richmond, Virginia - unidentified case UP6148
John Doe — Richmond, Virginia
UP6148 • Found Sep 26, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 45 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 88%54 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 75%5'4"–5'11" vs 5'2"
Hair 100%Black vs Black

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.