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 (MP35776) and 8 other sources
Vernon "Cody" Matthews, age 23, was last seen on June 6, 2014, in Pollock Pines, California. He had traveled to his family's cabin for the summer and planned to go on a hike that afternoon. Before leaving, he spoke with his mother and told her about a recent break-in at the cabin, where items worth approximately $18,000 were stolen. He set off for the hike, taking minimal supplies with him: a water bottle, a hunting knife, a compass, his phone, and some trail mix. His cell phone was last detected near the American River, but after that, there was no further contact from him.

Cody, an experienced outdoorsman and anthropology student at UC Berkeley, was very familiar with the area. Despite an extensive search in the rugged terrain known for wildlife like bears and mountain lions, no traces of him have been found. His parents later moved to Pollock Pines to aid in the search efforts, but tragically, their cabin was destroyed in a wildfire in September 2014, further compounding the family's hardships.

Authorities believe Cody likely encountered a mishap while hiking, but the exact circumstances of his disappearance remain unknown. His case remains open and unsolved.

Last Seen: Jun 6, 2014

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.

75%Possible
John Doe — Brisbane, California - unidentified case UP12987
John Doe — Brisbane, California
UP12987 • Found Sep 17, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 23
Race 100%White
Location 70%123 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 months after last seen
Height 68%6'0" vs 6'3"
Weight 79%175 lb vs 220 lb

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.