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Michael Ress Missing Person Case

Last seen in Buffalo, New York on Aug 11, 1989

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Victim Details

Sep 23, 2013

Oct 11, 2023

Michael

Ress

72

35

70 inches

71 inches

180 lbs

190 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Aug 11, 1989

Buffalo

New York

Erie County

31364

Buffalo Police Department

Buffalo

New York

Erie County

14202

68 Court Street, New York

7168514444

Local

Law Enforcement

bpdny.org

ABUF5757

Oct 19, 1989

Buffalo Police Department

Brown

Hazel

Hazel

Oct 5, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP21901) and 5 other sources
On a summer day in 1989, a 35-year-old man named Michael P. Ress disappeared from Buffalo, New York. He was last seen on August 11, 1989. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a white male, standing between 5'10' and 5'11' tall and weighing between 180 and 190 pounds. He had brown hair and hazel eyes. When he was last seen, he was reportedly wearing a white shirt, blue pants, and black footwear. The case was officially reported to the Buffalo Police Department by his mother on October 19, 1989, more than two months after he was last seen.

The circumstances surrounding Michael Ress's disappearance are troubling and have led to speculation over the years. Some accounts suggest his disappearance may be linked to organized crime. It has been reported that Ress had connections to the local drug trade and was an associate of the Buffalo Mafia. On the evening he went missing, he was allegedly on his way to meet with a significant figure in a local crime family. This has led investigators to believe that his disappearance might have been a result of foul play, possibly related to debts or his role as an informant.

Decades have passed since Michael Ress was last seen, and his case remains one of Buffalo's enduring cold cases. Despite initial investigations and the passage of time, his body has never been recovered. The lack of new evidence or witnesses has made it incredibly difficult for law enforcement to make progress in the case. The individuals who may have held key information regarding his whereabouts may no longer be alive, further complicating any potential resolution. The official investigation into what happened to Michael Ress remains open, a lingering question for his family and the community.
Last Seen: Aug 11, 1989

Links to Additional Sources (5)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP21901 | NamUs
  • Buffalo crime family - Wikipedia
  • Cold Case Files: 20 (or more) audacious mob-connected murders
  • The Local 210 Murders: Buffalo Mafia Baron Leonard Falzone Died ...
  • Buffalo Mob Made Michael Ress Disappear (from The Gangster ...

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (8)

    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.

    84%Moderate
    John Doe — Youngstown, New York
    UP13041 • Found Apr 10, 1993
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 96%26 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"–5'11"
    Weight 100%163 lb vs 180–190 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Barre, New York
    UP12909 • Found May 4, 1998
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 92%38 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–5'11"
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Youngstown, New York - unidentified case UP2141
    John Doe — Youngstown, New York
    UP2141 • Found May 25, 1998
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 96%26 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"–5'11"
    Weight 80%227 lb vs 180–190 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Youngstown, New York
    UP14273 • Found Mar 9, 2000
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 96%26 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"–5'11"
    Weight 100%200 lb vs 180–190 lb
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Pennsylvania
    UP16598 • Found Nov 6, 1992
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 64%154 mi away
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"–5'11"
    Weight 77%140 lb vs 180–190 lb
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Youngstown, New York
    UP13044 • Found Sep 6, 1995
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 96%26 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 6 years after last seen
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Philadephia, Pennsylvania
    UP7463 • Found Oct 14, 1994
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 47%278 mi away
    TimingFound 5 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–5'11"
    Weight 100%181 lb vs 180–190 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Hazel vs Hazel
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Trenton, New Jersey
    UP1500 • Found May 27, 1991
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 35 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 47%282 mi away
    TimingFound 22 months after last seen
    Height 100%6'0" vs 5'10"–5'11"
    Weight 100%180 lb vs 180–190 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.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Michael P. Ress was 35 when he was last seen in Buffalo, New York, on August 11, 1989. He was... ...Read More
    07/16/2024

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