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 (MP41913) and 4 other sources
In the summer of 2015, a 27-year-old woman named Mercedes Vassell vanished from her Staten Island community. On July 21st of that year, she was last seen in the Port Richmond area of the borough. At the time of her disappearance, Mercedes was living on Hamilton Avenue. A description of Mercedes was provided in the hopes of locating her; she is a Black / African American female with black hair and brown eyes, standing between five feet four and five feet five inches tall, and weighing between 90 and 110 pounds.

Details surrounding the day Mercedes went missing are scarce, and little information has been made public about the circumstances of her disappearance. She was reportedly walking in Port Richmond on the day she was last seen, but there have been no confirmed sightings or communications from her since. The lack of significant leads has made the investigation challenging for the New York City Police Department, which has been handling her case from the outset. Her case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in early 2018, ensuring her information is accessible to law enforcement agencies nationwide.

Years have passed since Mercedes Vassell was last heard from, and her case remains unsolved. The absence of new information has left her family and community with unanswered questions. The investigation, led by the New York City Police Department's Missing Persons Squad, is ongoing, and they continue to ask for the public's help. The overview of this case is that a young woman disappeared with very few details available about what might have happened to her. Her disappearance continues to be a source of concern and a painful mystery for those who know her.

Last Seen: Jul 21, 2015

Possible Unidentified Matches (9)

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.

83%Moderate
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP83746
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP83746 • Found Aug 19, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 99%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'1" vs 5'0"–5'5"
Weight 100%117 lb vs 90–110 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
Jane Doe — Newark, New Jersey - unidentified case UP17575
Jane Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP17575 • Found Mar 3, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 18–40 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 99%14 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'0"–5'5"
Weight 74%133 lb vs 90–110 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
78%Possible
Jane Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - unidentified case UP98383
Jane Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP98383 • Found Dec 10, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–39 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 85%63 mi away
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'0"–5'5"
Weight 70%135 lb vs 90–110 lb
78%Possible
Jane Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP64681 • Found Nov 2, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 30–55 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 99%14 mi away
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 75%4'11"–5'6" vs 5'0"–5'5"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
77%Possible
Jane Doe — Manhattan, New York - unidentified case UP142450
Jane Doe — Manhattan, New York
UP142450 • Found Apr 5, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 77%Est. 40–60 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 99%13 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2" vs 5'0"–5'5"
Weight 14%155 lb vs 90–110 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Paterson, New Jersey - unidentified case UP110249
Jane Doe — Paterson, New Jersey
UP110249 • Found Oct 5, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 60%Est. 19–89 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 97%23 mi away
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'0" vs 5'0"–5'5"
Weight 70%135 lb vs 90–110 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Manhattan, New York - unidentified case UP104918
Jane Doe — Manhattan, New York
UP104918 • Found Jun 9, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 64%Est. 40–60 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 97%20 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'0"–5'5"
Weight 0%189 lb vs 90–110 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Forest Hills, New York - unidentified case UP85798
Jane Doe — Forest Hills, New York
UP85798 • Found Sep 11, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 54%Est. 40–65 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 98%19 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2" vs 5'0"–5'5"
Weight 78%131 lb vs 90–110 lb
Hair 40%Gray vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — Manhattan, New York - unidentified case UP161873
Jane Doe — Manhattan, New York
UP161873 • Found Aug 6, 2026
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 97%20 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 75%5'0"–5'7" vs 5'0"–5'5"
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.