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 (MP117530) and 5 other sources
On August 1, 2023, a 61-year-old man named Kirk Payton vanished from the Hollis neighborhood in Queens, New York. His disappearance left his community and loved ones searching for answers. At the time he went missing, Mr. Payton was a senior member of his community, and his sudden absence prompted an investigation by the New York City Police Department's Missing Persons Squad. The circumstances leading up to the moment he was last seen are not widely known, adding a layer of concern and urgency to the search for him.

Kirk Payton is an African American male with a distinct physical presence. He stands tall at six feet, two inches, with a weight of approximately 140 pounds. His hair is described as gray or partially gray, and he has brown eyes. On the day he disappeared, he was believed to be wearing a blue shirt paired with black sneakers. These details, while helpful for identification, represent the last known fragments of information about his whereabouts, a final snapshot before he seemingly vanished without a trace from the familiar streets of his Queens neighborhood.

The investigation into Kirk Payton's case is a quiet but persistent effort to piece together the events of that summer day. With little public information available regarding where he might have been headed or what his plans were, the case remains shrouded in uncertainty. The overview of this case is one of an unsettling and abrupt disappearance. A 61-year-old man is gone from his home and community, and the lack of available details paints a somber picture for those awaiting any news, leaving only hope that someone, somewhere, has information that could help locate him and bring peace to those affected by his absence.

Last Seen: Aug 1, 2023

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

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.

76%Possible
John Doe — Manhattan, New York - unidentified case UP150492
John Doe — Manhattan, New York
UP150492 • Found Aug 7, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 61 when missing
Location 100%11 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 84%6'0" vs 6'2"
Weight 0%225 lb vs 140 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP137367
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP137367 • Found Jan 2, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 61 when missing
Location 100%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 100%6'1" vs 6'2"
Weight 0%220 lb vs 140 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey - unidentified case UP156066
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP156066 • Found Nov 23, 2025
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 61 when missing
Location 97%21 mi away
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1" vs 6'2"
Weight 54%183 lb vs 140 lb
Hair 40%Black vs Gray

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.