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 (MP25522) and 4 other sources
In the spring of 1987, a 32-year-old woman named Westie Leda Knauer was last seen in North Portland, Oregon. The specific date in April of that year is uncertain, but it marks the last time anyone has reported seeing or hearing from her. At the time of her disappearance, Westie was described as a white female with blonde or strawberry-blonde hair and brown eyes, standing between 5'8' and 5'9' and weighing around 130 pounds. Known affectionately to some as 'West,' her case is a long-standing mystery.

A particularly distressing aspect of Westie's case is the significant delay in official action. It wasn't until nearly two months after she was last seen that her mother reported her as a missing person. This gap in time created immediate challenges for the investigation undertaken by the Portland Police Bureau. Details about her life and the specific circumstances leading up to that last sighting in April 1987 remain scarce in public records. It is known that she had previously suffered fractures to her ribs and right hip, and had pins implanted in her right leg as a result of these past injuries.

Decades have passed since Westie Knauer vanished, and her case has grown cold with very few details available to the public. The lack of information surrounding her disappearance has left her loved ones without answers and her story without a conclusion. Since she was last seen in North Portland, there have been no confirmed contacts or sightings. The overview of this case is one of profound uncertainty; a woman disappeared, and due to the delay in reporting and the limited information available, the trail quickly went cold, leaving a void of information and a search for answers that has spanned more than three decades.

Last Seen: Apr 1, 1987

Possible Unidentified Matches (2)

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.

80%Moderate
Jane Doe — Portland, Oregon - unidentified case UP9936
Jane Doe — Portland, Oregon
UP9936 • Found Oct 18, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 35–55 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'8"–5'9"
Weight 100%130 lb vs 130 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
Jane Doe — Portland, Oregon - unidentified case UP9599
Jane Doe — Portland, Oregon
UP9599 • Found Sep 7, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 32 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same county
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 52%5'4" vs 5'8"–5'9"
Weight 100%140 lb vs 130 lb
Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
Eyes 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.