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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 (MP11664) and 1 other source
In the small community of Fort Edward, New York, a lingering question has remained for many years regarding the whereabouts of one of its residents. On September 1, 1996, 59-year-old Leroy M. Chittenden was seen in his neighborhood, and then, without a clear reason or any warning, he vanished. His disappearance was uncharacteristic, causing immediate concern among his family and friends with whom he maintained close ties. When he did not return home or make any contact, he was reported as a missing person. At the time of his disappearance, Leroy was described as a white male, standing at five feet ten inches tall and weighing approximately 170 pounds, with graying hair and brown eyes.

Local authorities, specifically the New York State Police from the Wilton barracks, launched an investigation into Leroy's sudden disappearance. Investigators interviewed those closest to him, including family, friends, and neighbors, in an attempt to piece together a timeline of his last known movements. Despite these efforts, no significant leads or evidence that could shed light on his whereabouts were uncovered. Law enforcement conducted searches in the local area and extended their efforts to surrounding regions, but found no signs of foul play or any indication that he had voluntarily decided to leave. The lack of concrete evidence presented a significant challenge for investigators, leaving them to consider multiple possibilities without a clear path forward.

As days turned into weeks and then years, Leroy Chittenden's case grew cold. His family, left in a painful state of uncertainty, made public appeals for any information that might help locate him. They distributed flyers and utilized local media to keep his story in the public eye, hoping someone would come forward with a crucial piece of information. A significant and troubling aspect of this case is the complete lack of contact from Leroy since he was last seen; furthermore, there has been no record of any financial activity in his name. The investigation into his disappearance remains open, and authorities are hopeful that new information may one day emerge. The official report of his disappearance was filed on March 30, 2004, and his case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System on July 13, 2011, a testament to the enduring mystery and the continued search for answers by his loved ones and law enforcement.

Last Seen: Sep 1, 1996

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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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.

77%Possible
John Doe — Lynn, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP15537
John Doe — Lynn, Massachusetts
UP15537 • Found Aug 4, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 66%144 mi away
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 88%143 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6799
John Doe — New York, New York
UP6799 • Found Feb 10, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 59
Race 100%White
Location 59%178 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 months after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%180 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP6797
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP6797 • Found Jan 24, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 59
Race 100%White
Location 60%176 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 96%190 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5727
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5727 • Found Oct 23, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–70 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 59%178 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 79%135 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6009
John Doe — New York, New York
UP6009 • Found Dec 18, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 55–80 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 60%174 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%154 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6324
John Doe — New York, New York
UP6324 • Found Oct 30, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 60%174 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 73%210 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Boston, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP15715
John Doe — Boston, Massachusetts
UP15715 • Found Jul 20, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–65 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 66%143 mi away
TimingFound 20 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%181 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%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 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 67%141 mi away
TimingFound 20 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%157 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
75%Possible
John Doe — Medford, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP11551
John Doe — Medford, Massachusetts
UP11551 • Found Jul 3, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 75 vs 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 67%139 mi away
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%163 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
75%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 59 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 59%178 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%179 lb vs 170 lb
Hair 70%Brown vs Gray
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.