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 (MP19729) and 4 other sources
In the autumn of 1976, a young man named Michael James DeMaria vanished from his life in New York, New York, leaving behind a mystery that has endured for decades. On October 14, 1976, the 28-year-old was seen leaving his apartment building in Manhattan. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a White male, 5'11' tall, and weighing approximately 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Distinctive features included dimples and scars on his stomach. When he was last seen, he was reportedly wearing a blue button-down shirt, blue shoes, and a blue sapphire ring. The circumstances surrounding his departure from his building that day remain unknown, and there was no indication that he intended to leave his life behind.

The investigation into Michael DeMaria's disappearance has yielded very few clues over the years, contributing to the enduring mystery of his case. Authorities have indicated there was no known reason for him to disappear voluntarily, which has led to suspicions of foul play. Despite the passage of time, law enforcement, including the New York City Police Department's Missing Persons Squad, has kept his case open. In an effort to generate new leads, his case has been entered into national databases for missing persons, such as NamUs, under the case number MP19729. This has allowed for his information to be shared widely with the public and other law enforcement agencies in the hopes that someone might come forward with information.

The lack of any significant developments has left his case cold, a source of ongoing bewilderment for investigators. Public-facing databases and online communities dedicated to unsolved cases have periodically renewed attention on his disappearance, encouraging the public to share any information they might have, no matter how insignificant it may seem. The overview of this case is one of an abrupt and unexplained disappearance that has left more questions than answers. With no solid leads since the day he vanished, the case of Michael DeMaria remains a perplexing and unresolved mystery.

Last Seen: Oct 14, 1976

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 — 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 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 31 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%179 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6047
John Doe — New York, New York
UP6047 • Found May 1, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 24 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
Weight 91%154 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP7395
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP7395 • Found Jul 17, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away, same state
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%190 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP8534
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP8534 • Found Sep 7, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
Weight 76%140 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Weehawken, New Jersey - unidentified case UP1674
John Doe — Weehawken, New Jersey
UP1674 • Found Nov 6, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%3 mi away
TimingFound 31 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
Weight 100%195 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
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 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 29 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Weight 84%212 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5784
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5784 • Found Jul 16, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away, same state
TimingFound 26 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'11"
Weight 87%150 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP5990
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP5990 • Found Nov 25, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same state
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'11"
Weight 98%200 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP5980
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP5980 • Found Sep 28, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same state
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'11"
Weight 68%226 lb vs 180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7760
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7760 • Found Jan 30, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 28 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"
Weight 70%135 lb vs 180 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.