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Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP57327) and 1 other source
In the autumn of 1978, a sense of unease settled over a family in Niagara Falls, New York, when 22-year-old Richard C. Booth seemingly vanished. Richard, a young man of 22, was last seen on November 2, 1978. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a Caucasian male, standing at 6 feet tall and weighing around 150 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. When he was last seen, he was wearing jeans, a leather jacket, and eyeglasses. The last confirmed sighting of Richard was on that November day, and the specific location remains unknown.

The alarm was first raised not by a missed appointment or an unreturned phone call, but by a concerned message from Richard's employer. They contacted his mother to report that Richard, a typically dependable employee, had uncharacteristically stopped showing up for his job. This news immediately sparked worry, as it was completely out of character for him. His mother promptly reported him missing to the Niagara Falls Police Department on November 7, 1978, five days after he was last seen. Unsubstantiated information that has circulated suggests he may have been involved in an altercation at a bar before he disappeared.

Decades have now passed since Richard Booth was last seen, and his case has grown cold, leaving his family with unanswered questions. Despite the passage of time, the investigation into his disappearance remains open. The details surrounding that day in November 1978 are sparse, and no significant leads have emerged to shed light on what might have happened to him. The overview of the case is a painful one: a young man at the start of his adult life disappeared without a trace, his absence noted only after he failed to appear at work. The lack of concrete information and the years of silence have left a void for those who knew and loved him, a mystery that endures in the Niagara Falls community.

Last Seen: Nov 2, 1978

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (5)

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.

82%Moderate
John Doe — Youngstown, New York
UP13041 • Found Apr 10, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same county
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%163 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — New York
UP497 • Found Aug 3, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away, same county
TimingFound 27 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%147 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Lewiston, New York
UP488 • Found Aug 15, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 23 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 99%134 lb vs 150 lb
75%Possible
John Doe — Near Sodus Point, New York
UP17355 • Found Jul 12, 1980
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Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 74%104 mi away, same state
TimingFound 20 months after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'0"
Weight 65%190 lb vs 150 lb
75%Possible
John Doe — Bear Creek Township, Pennsylvania - unidentified case UP15764
John Doe — Bear Creek Township, Pennsylvania
UP15764 • Found May 28, 1979
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 17–22 vs 22
Race 100%White
Location 53%215 mi away
TimingFound 7 months after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 80%180 lb vs 150 lb
Hair 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.