Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
295 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Forum Posts for Duy Phan:
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If any of his family or friends that were there that day, my voice was most likely the last one he heard as I yelled for him to get the volley ball that wasn't far from him so he could use it to help him float. I witnessed everything and more. My phone number is 385 346 8622 I am stoping payment on this account because I only joined to post here.

I came across Duy Quang Phan's case while doing some reading on unsolved missing persons from the 90s, and there's just something that's been on my mind. Does anyone know if there were any eyewitnesses on the beach that day, other than his friends? Bean Hollow State Beach isn't exactly a bustling tourist spot, but it seems odd that nobody else saw what happened besides his immediate group. Maybe someone further down the beach noticed something unusual or even saw the last moments before he got pulled under? It seems like any little piece of information could be crucial, even after all these years. Just thinking how secondary witnesses could sometimes offer a fresh perspective or detail that’s been overlooked. Anyone else think the same, or have more info on any other witnesses?

Yes, I was there and witnessed the entire incident from when the ball was kicked into the ocean until an hour after a wave came over his head and his body washed over the top of the wave. I witnessed the Coast Guard fl in and divers and attempt to find him. I've been traumatized by this event. Three days ago I started crying at the dinner able remembering this incident while my 18 year old son was eating dinner. The next day i saw my therapist and spoke to him about it. There was nothing we could do, I was standing next to a rescue swimmer who saw him in the water and he said there's no way we can go in there.

I grew up at a beach house in Carmel, ca and visited beaches off of highway 1 most of my childhood, I know the water well and that day when Duy drowned it was the worst ocean conditions I've ever seen. I'm sure there is ocean current data from that day some place.

I was thinking of everything I could do. My voice was most likely the last voice that he heard I was yelling for him to get to the volley ball that was just a foot away. I saw the boy on the beach who kicked the ball in collapse in tears. I will not continue this membership. I just came here to post my witness account.

I have been trying to reach his family to tell the kid who kicked the ball that it wasn't his fault.

Thanks, my number is 385 346 8622 if anyone is related.

You are right. This wasn't anyone's fault. It was a tragic event that scarred so many lives. Thank you for posting.
Does anyone else find it puzzling that despite the intense search efforts right after Duy Phan went missing, they couldn't recover his body? I mean, there was a Coast Guard helicopter and divers out there, yet nothing was found. I get that the ocean is vast and unpredictable, but it makes me think of other cases where victims have been found despite similar circumstances. It's unsettling to think that after all these years, his family still doesn't have closure. Has anyone come across any updates or similar cases where there was a breakthrough much later on?

I was there and witnessed the entire event. The rescue divers came almost 1.5 to 2 hours after the last wave came over his head and he was gone. An hour after this his body came up over the top of a wave. The ocean was the worst i've ever seen it that day. I stood next to a rescue diver who said we can't go in after him, we will be gone too. The rescue divers never went in the water, it was way to rough for them. The helicopter hovered for a little while and left.

Does anyone have more information about other incidents at Bean Hollow State Beach around the same time Duy went missing? I remember reading somewhere that this beach had quite a few dangerous spots and that other swimmers might have faced similar issues. It makes me wonder if there were efforts later on to improve safety measures at this beach. It's so sad that Duy's remains were never found, and I can't help but think about what could have been done differently. Any local insights or news articles from back in the day would be appreciated.

See my relies above.