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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 (MP25563) and 6 other sources
In the late summer of 1986, a young man named Kerby Allen Bessey vanished from the coastal city of Coos Bay, Oregon, leaving behind a deepening mystery. On August 28th, the 27-year-old was last seen at the Blue Moon Cafï and Lounge on South Broadway Street. At the time of his disappearance, Kerby, a graduate of Marshfield High School, was described as a white male, standing at 5'11' to 6'0' tall and weighing around 165 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He was reportedly wearing a t-shirt, a two-toned blue jacket, and faded blue jeans. A distinctive scar on his abdomen was also noted as a key physical characteristic. That day, he made a 6 a.m. phone call to his mother, telling her he had things to do and would be back late, but he was never heard from again.

The circumstances surrounding Kerby's disappearance are fraught with troubling details. At the time he went missing, he was reportedly involved with a group dealing in large quantities of marijuana and cocaine. There were rumors that he had a drug debt and was fearful of someone from Jackson County. It was even suggested that a $5,000 contract had been put on his life, and he had returned to his hometown of Coos Bay to hide out. Though he often worked on offshore oil rigs, he was recovering from surgery at the time he vanished. Over the years, law enforcement has pursued various leads, including using cadaver dogs to search an area in Myrtle Beach in 2010, but these efforts have not yielded any results.

Decades have passed since Kerby Bessey was last seen, and his case remains unsolved, leaving his family with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss. In 2016, thirty years after he vanished, family and friends gathered to hold a memorial service for him, a testament to the enduring impact of his absence. His sister has spoken of the difficulty his disappearance has been for their family, expressing a hope that the memorial might bring some measure of peace. The Coos Bay Police Department has stated that they have investigated every tip received over the years, but no trace of Kerby has ever been found. The case is a haunting puzzle of a young man last seen in a local lounge, with a backdrop of rumored danger and drug involvement, leaving a community and a family to wonder what became of Kerby Allen Bessey.

Last Seen: Aug 28, 1986

Possible Unidentified Matches (5)

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 — Cottage Grove, Oregon - unidentified case UP58583
John Doe — Cottage Grove, Oregon
UP58583 • Found Apr 26, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%65 mi away, same state
TimingFound 33 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8"–6'2" vs 5'11"–6'0"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
75%Possible
John Doe — Florence, Oregon - unidentified case UP97387
John Doe — Florence, Oregon
UP97387 • Found Sep 21, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 91%43 mi away, same state
TimingFound 36 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10"–6'4" vs 5'11"–6'0"
75%Possible
John Doe — Oregon - unidentified case UP10109
John Doe — Oregon
UP10109 • Found Apr 2, 2012
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 72%114 mi away, same state
TimingFound 26 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'11"–6'0"
Weight 90%190 lb vs 165 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Portland, Oregon - unidentified case UP9987
John Doe — Portland, Oregon
UP9987 • Found Jun 6, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 62%166 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1" vs 5'11"–6'0"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 165 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Portland, Oregon - unidentified case UP11906
John Doe — Portland, Oregon
UP11906 • Found Jul 28, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 27 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 62%166 mi away, same state
TimingFound 23 months after last seen
Height 68%5'8" vs 5'11"–6'0"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 165 lb
Hair 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.

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