Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP23664) and 4 other sources
In the winter of 1978, a 22-year-old man named Roger Jonathan Stenholt vanished, leaving behind a mystery that has endured for decades. On January 1st, of that year, he was last seen in New York State. Details surrounding his activities in New York and the exact date of his last contact remain vague. It is believed that sometime after his last sighting, he may have traveled to Phoenix, Arizona. Since that time, there has been no communication from him, and his whereabouts have been unknown. The Phoenix Police Department is credited with the investigation into his disappearance, though the case was not officially reported until June 24, 1996, many years after he was last seen.

Roger Stenholt was a white male with brown hair and brown eyes, standing between 5'11' and 6'1' and weighing between 165 and 180 pounds. He had several distinguishing physical characteristics that could aid in his identification. These included a scar on his right ankle and an oval-shaped burn mark on one of his lower legs. He may have also had a lump on his forehead from a childhood injury and possible previous fractures to his right arm and leg. At the time of his disappearance, he sometimes used the middle name John.

The circumstances leading to Roger Stenholt's disappearance remain unclear, and the lack of information has made the investigation challenging. The significant gap between his last known appearance and the official report of his disappearance further complicates efforts to piece together a timeline of his last known movements. The case is a poignant example of the difficulties faced by law enforcement and families when a loved one vanishes without a trace, leaving more questions than answers. The investigation into what happened to Roger Stenholt is ongoing.

Last Seen: Jan 1, 1978

Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

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.

83%Moderate
John Doe — Laveen, Arizona - unidentified case UP2028
John Doe — Laveen, Arizona
UP2028 • Found Nov 23, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%8 mi away, same county
TimingFound 26 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'11"–6'1"
Weight 100%196 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1904
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1904 • Found Aug 4, 1984
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 84%5'9" vs 5'11"–6'1"
Weight 79%130 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1956
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1956 • Found Feb 13, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 21 years after last seen
Height 100%6'2" vs 5'11"–6'1"
Weight 97%200 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1931
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1931 • Found Nov 30, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 15–30 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 68%5'8" vs 5'11"–6'1"
Weight 100%157 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP819
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP819 • Found Aug 2, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 30 years after last seen
Height 84%5'9" vs 5'11"–6'1"
Weight 100%155 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1971
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1971 • Found Apr 7, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same county
TimingFound 23 years after last seen
Height 68%5'8" vs 5'11"–6'1"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1919
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1919 • Found Jun 23, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"–6'1"
Weight 100%191 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP1900
John Doe — Arizona
UP1900 • Found Dec 19, 1982
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 75%Est. 30–55 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"–6'1"
Weight 92%141 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Arizona - unidentified case UP1933
John Doe — Arizona
UP1933 • Found Jul 30, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 22 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 18 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"–6'1"
Weight 88%137 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — La Puente, California
UP10813 • Found Mar 1, 1978
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–25 vs 22
Race 100%White
Location 41%340 mi away
TimingFound 8 weeks after last seen
Height 84%5'9" vs 5'11"–6'1"
Weight 81%131 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
Physical features: Scar: burn

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.