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 (MP9903) and 6 other sources
In the late afternoon of September 16, 1998, a 35-year-old woman named Velita Gambrell was seen on Livingston Street in the Bronx, a borough of New York City. At approximately 4:00 PM, she vanished under circumstances that remain unclear to this day. Velita, a Black female with black hair and brown eyes, was known to sometimes wear glasses or contact lenses. She stood at a height of about four feet eleven inches and weighed around 100 pounds. Her ears were pierced, and she had noticeably large upper front teeth. On the day she disappeared, for reasons unknown, she did not return, and has not been heard from since.

The years stretched on with no word from or sighting of Velita Gambrell, leaving her family with unanswered questions. The pain of her absence was deeply felt, and in 2016, when her mother passed away, Velita was mentioned in the obituary as having predeceased her. This heart-wrenching acknowledgment spoke to the profound loss and the fading hope for her safe return. Despite the passage of time, her case remains open, a lingering echo in the lives of those who knew her. The lack of clear details surrounding what happened to her has made the search for answers incredibly challenging for both her loved ones and law enforcement.

The investigation into Velita Gambrell's disappearance has yielded very little information over the decades. The circumstances of her case are described as unclear, leaving a void where facts and a clear timeline should be. Her case is a somber reminder of the many individuals who go missing, their stories left unfinished and their families in a perpetual state of uncertainty. The overview of this case is one of a sudden and unexplained disappearance that has left more questions than answers. With no significant leads or developments, the quest for what happened to Velita Gambrell continues, a silent testament to a life interrupted.

Last Seen: Sep 16, 1998

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.

87%Strong
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6141
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP6141 • Found Nov 5, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 35 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 100%4'9" vs 4'10"
Weight 90%85 lb vs 100 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP1482 • Found Oct 24, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 35 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 98%18 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 52%5'2" vs 4'10"
Weight 80%120 lb vs 100 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5728
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5728 • Found Nov 17, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 20–40 vs 35 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 99%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 52%5'2" vs 4'10"
Weight 100%110 lb vs 100 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
Jane Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP1490 • Found Feb 9, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 27–40 vs 35 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%12 mi away
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 52%5'2" vs 4'10"
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
77%Possible
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP83746
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP83746 • Found Aug 19, 2021
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 35 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 23 years after last seen
Height 68%5'1" vs 4'10"
Weight 86%117 lb vs 100 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
Jane Doe — Manhattan, New York - unidentified case UP15072
Jane Doe — Manhattan, New York
UP15072 • Found Aug 5, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 35 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%8 mi away, same state
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 68%5'1" vs 4'10"
Weight 0%241 lb vs 100 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5568
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP5568 • Found Dec 17, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 35 when missing
Location 100%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 84%5'0" vs 4'10"
Weight 100%106 lb vs 100 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP6075
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP6075 • Found Sep 3, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 49%Est. 45–65 vs 35 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 99%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 24 months after last seen
Height 84%5'0" vs 4'10"
Weight 92%114 lb vs 100 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP6322
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP6322 • Found Oct 14, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 35
Race 100%Black
Location 99%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 4 weeks after last seen
Height 20%5'4" vs 4'10"
Weight 0%150 lb vs 100 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP16189
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP16189 • Found Dec 3, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 90%Est. 55–70 vs 35 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%8 mi away, same state
TimingFound 18 years after last seen
Height 84%5'0" vs 4'10"
Weight 0%160 lb vs 100 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Black
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.