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William Garlick Missing Person Case

Last seen in Worcester, Massachusetts on Sep 13, 1982

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Victim Details

Mar 21, 2013

Oct 12, 2023

William

Garlick

71

27

72 inches

200 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Sep 13, 1982

Worcester

Massachusetts

Worcester County

13300

Maine State Police - Troop E

Bangor

Maine

Penobscot County

04401

198 Maine Road, Maine

2079733700

State

Law Enforcement

LC-82-04999

Maine State Police - Troop E

Brown

Brown

Brown

No

Oct 3, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP19727) and 12 other sources
William Garlick, a 27-year-old from Worcester, Massachusetts, went missing on September 13, 1982, under mysterious circumstances. He and his acquaintance, John V.J. Joyce Jr., left Worcester in Garlick's black 1980 Corvette, reportedly heading to Alton, Maine, to collect a $22,000 debt. The next day, Garlick's Corvette was discovered abandoned in the parking lot of the Bangor Mall in Bangor, Maine. The car's interior was damaged, and Garlick’s wallet was found inside, but there was no sign of either man.

Both men disappeared without a trace, and extensive investigations have yielded few leads over the decades. Their disappearance has been linked to the dangerous world of drug debts, as it was rumored that the money they were attempting to collect might have been connected to criminal activity. Despite numerous efforts by both local and state authorities, including the Maine State Police, no foul play has been conclusively proven, and their whereabouts remain unknown. The case continues to baffle investigators and remains one of Worcester's long-standing unsolved mysteries.
Last Seen: Sep 13, 1982

Links to Additional Sources (12)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Worcester's unsolved chronicles: 2 men vanish in 1982
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP19727
  • Unsolved: Worcester - Season 3, Ep. 8 - William Garlick ... - YouTube
  • William Garlick and John V.J. Joyce Went Missing in Maine - The 016
  • 5071DMME - William M. Garlick - Doe Network
  • Maine State Police's post - Facebook
  • Episode 8 of Unsolved: Worcester Season 3 Now Available
  • Unsolved: Worcester - Se. 6, Ep. 2 - Charles McArthur - Sept 14, 1982
  • William Garlick, 27, & John Joyce, 33, Worcester MA to Alton ME, 13 ...
  • Garlick, William | Maine State Police
  • William Garlick and John VJ Joyce Went Missing in Maine
  • Episode 8 of Unsolved: Worcester Season 3, William Garlick and ...

    • 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.

    82%Moderate
    John Doe — Medford, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP16439
    John Doe — Medford, Massachusetts
    UP16439 • Found Jul 25, 1984
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%37 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 22 months after last seen
    Height 100%6'1" vs 6'0"
    Weight 90%170 lb vs 200 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Methuen, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP14202
    John Doe — Methuen, Massachusetts
    UP14202 • Found Oct 28, 2000
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 91%45 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 18 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11"–6'5" vs 6'0"
    Weight 85%165 lb vs 200 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Everett, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP15890
    John Doe — Everett, Massachusetts
    UP15890 • Found May 2, 2016
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 55–60 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 92%40 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 34 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
    Weight 77%157 lb vs 200 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Lowell, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP15888
    John Doe — Lowell, Massachusetts
    UP15888 • Found Mar 12, 2016
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 55–60 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 93%36 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 33 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'0" vs 6'0"
    Weight 76%156 lb vs 200 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Lunenburg, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP14702
    John Doe — Lunenburg, Massachusetts
    UP14702 • Found Jul 7, 2011
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 40–45 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 96%23 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 29 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'1" vs 6'0"
    Weight 56%140 lb vs 200 lb
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Webster, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP12944
    John Doe — Webster, Massachusetts
    UP12944 • Found Dec 31, 2003
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%15 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 21 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
    Weight 100%204 lb vs 200 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7974
    John Doe — New York, New York
    UP7974 • Found Jun 17, 1993
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 64%156 mi away
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
    Weight 90%230 lb vs 200 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    77%Possible
    John Doe — West Milford, New Jersey
    UP1718 • Found Jun 10, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 33–45 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 64%154 mi away
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 100%6'0" vs 6'0"
    Weight 100%182 lb vs 200 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5558
    John Doe — New York, New York
    UP5558 • Found Oct 5, 2007
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 64%156 mi away
    TimingFound 25 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
    Weight 99%179 lb vs 200 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5637
    John Doe — New York, New York
    UP5637 • Found Nov 2, 2005
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 27 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 64%156 mi away
    TimingFound 23 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
    Weight 100%212 lb vs 200 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    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.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    William Garlick, 27, of Worcester, Massachusetts, vanished after leaving town on September 13, 1982.... ...Read More
    09/08/2023

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