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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 (MP9496) and 7 other sources
William Jeffers Lank, also known as Jeff, was 42 years old when he was last seen in Wilmington, Delaware, on December 13, 1992. He is listed in NamUs as missing person MP9496, with his last contact recorded in Wilmington, New Castle County. Online case summaries describe him as a White/Caucasian male, about 6 feet tall and 175 pounds, with sandy hair and hazel eyes.

The reported circumstances center on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. According to The Charley Project and Uncovered, at about 10:44 a.m. that morning, the Delaware River and Bay Authority was notified that a person matching William’s description had jumped from the northbound bridge. When authorities responded, they found his maroon 1979 Peugeot parked on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Marine rescue personnel searched the water, but the searches did not locate William.

At the time he disappeared, William may have been carrying a large black Velcro wallet containing identification papers. He was reportedly wearing khaki pants, a red shirt, gray sweatpants underneath the khakis, a blue full-length Woolrich winter coat, work shoes or black footwear, and a gold wedding ring. These personal details matter because even small identifiers can help connect a missing person to later findings or memories from the public.

William also had several distinguishing physical characteristics. Missing-person listings note scars on his right calf, both legs, and neck from an earlier auto accident, as well as a mole on an upper arm. Other summaries state that he had suffered serious injuries in a 1989 vehicle accident, including injuries to his right leg, and that he had experienced depression afterward. These details are presented in public case summaries as part of the effort to identify him accurately and preserve the full context of his life and disappearance.

The New Castle County Police Department is identified as the investigating agency, with the case associated with NamUs number MP9496 and agency case number 32-92-119559. Public sources continue to list William’s case among missing-person records connected to Wilmington, Delaware, and the Delaware Memorial Bridge incident. His case remains a painful example of a disappearance in which authorities responded quickly and searched, yet the family was left without the certainty of recovery.

Last Seen: Dec 13, 1992

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 — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP53079 • Found Sep 26, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 42
Race 100%White
Location 96%24 mi away
TimingFound 9 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10"–6'0" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%185–195 lb vs 175 lb
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
82%Moderate
John Doe — Philadephia, Pennsylvania
UP7463 • Found Oct 14, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%28 mi away
TimingFound 22 months after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%181 lb vs 175 lb
Eyes 100%Hazel vs Hazel
81%Moderate
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP16610 • Found Oct 25, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%29 mi away
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%190 lb vs 175 lb
80%Moderate
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP16508 • Found Nov 8, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%29 mi away
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 82%142 lb vs 175 lb
79%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - unidentified case UP7296
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP7296 • Found Sep 30, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 78%Est. 25–40 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 96%25 mi away
TimingFound 22 months after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%169 lb vs 175 lb
Eyes 30%Blue vs Hazel
79%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7782
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7782 • Found Mar 24, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 74%106 mi away
TimingFound 15 months after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%180 lb vs 175 lb
Eyes 100%Hazel vs Hazel
78%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP16609 • Found Mar 19, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 95%29 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%170 lb vs 175 lb
78%Possible
John Doe — Atlantic City, New Jersey - unidentified case UP1610
John Doe — Atlantic City, New Jersey
UP1610 • Found Aug 28, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 41–56 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%65 mi away
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%165 lb vs 175 lb
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
78%Possible
John Doe — Atlantic City, New Jersey - unidentified case UP1687
John Doe — Atlantic City, New Jersey
UP1687 • Found Mar 22, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 44–51 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 85%65 mi away
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%180 lb vs 175 lb
Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
78%Possible
John Doe — Mullica Township, New Jersey - unidentified case UP1484
John Doe — Mullica Township, New Jersey
UP1484 • Found Oct 11, 1994
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 92%Est. 45–55 vs 42 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 90%45 mi away
TimingFound 22 months after last seen
Height 68%5'9" vs 6'0"
Weight 100%187 lb vs 175 lb

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.