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 (MP28224) and 4 other sources
Brian James Ranken, age 31, was last seen on October 18, 1991, in South Lake Tahoe, California. He was driving his car at the time of his disappearance and has not been heard from since. Ranken is described as a 6-foot-tall, Caucasian male with brown hair and brown eyes, weighing around 160 pounds. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing black jeans, a brown leather waist-length jacket, and black boots. He also wore two gold rings: a pinky ring with a small diamond and a gold nugget ring with three diamonds.

Ranken had several distinguishing features, including a tattoo of a skeleton paddling a kayak on his back, a previously capped front tooth, and a previously fractured hip. His case has remained unsolved, and there has been little information to emerge about the circumstances of his disappearance. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department continues to investigate his case.

Last Seen: Oct 18, 1991

Possible Unidentified Matches (7)

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.

78%Possible
John Doe — Nevada - unidentified case UP7622
John Doe — Nevada
UP7622 • Found Oct 21, 1995
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 28–38 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 92%39 mi away
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
78%Possible
John Doe — Nevada
UP7584 • Found Aug 24, 1993
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 27–34 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 77%94 mi away
TimingFound 22 months after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'0"
78%Possible
John Doe — San Francisco, California
UP5935 • Found Jan 18, 1993
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 64%155 mi away, same state
TimingFound 15 months after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%165 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — California - unidentified case UP2363
John Doe — California
UP2363 • Found Mar 9, 2003
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 80%81 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Newman, California - unidentified case UP13001
John Doe — Newman, California
UP13001 • Found Feb 1, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 31 when missing
Race 60%Hispanic
Location 70%126 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'0"
Weight 95%180 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Reno, Nevada
UP8426 • Found Aug 7, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 64%Est. 37–45 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 92%42 mi away
TimingFound 22 months after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Reno, Nevada
UP7626 • Found May 5, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 31 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 92%42 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%170 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 40%Gray 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.