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 (MP9582) and 5 other sources
In the winter of 1984, a 50-year-old woman named Barbara Zakon vanished from her Brooklyn, New York neighborhood, leaving behind a life marked by profound resilience and personal struggles. On December 22nd, she was last seen in the afternoon near the intersection of East 12th Street and Kings Highway. Barbara, a survivor of the Holocaust, carried the memories of her past with her, etched not only in her mind but also as a concentration camp tattoo on her left forearm. Originally from Poland, she was multilingual, speaking English, Polish, and Yiddish. At the time of her disappearance, she resided on East 10th Street in the Sheepshead Bay area. Her life was not without its challenges; she managed diabetes and a history of psychiatric conditions, for which she was taking Lithium.

The circumstances surrounding Barbara's disappearance remain shrouded in mystery, with very few details emerging in the decades since she was last seen. After leaving her home that December afternoon, she was never heard from again. Authorities classified her as an endangered missing person, a designation underscored by her medical needs and mental health history. Described as a white female with brown hair and brown eyes, she had a mole on the left side of her nose and another on the right side of her face. She was known to sometimes use the last names Breindel or Kazman. When she vanished, it is believed she was wearing a dark-colored stocking cap.

Despite the passage of time, Barbara Zakon's case remains an unsolved and poignant mystery. The New York City Police Department has kept her file open, but the lack of significant leads or evidence has left her fate unknown. Her disappearance is a stark reminder of the many individuals who vanish without a trace, leaving behind families and communities to grapple with unanswered questions. The case is a somber narrative of a woman who survived one of history's darkest chapters, only to disappear from the streets of her adopted home. With no new information to guide the investigation, the story of Barbara Zakon's disappearance is one of enduring uncertainty and the quiet hope that one day, answers may still come to light.

Last Seen: Dec 22, 1984

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.

81%Moderate
Jane Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP8339
Jane Doe — Queens, New York
UP8339 • Found Jul 21, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"
Weight 90%170 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP9093
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP9093 • Found Oct 11, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 55–75 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 21%115 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5768
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5768 • Found Mar 13, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 17 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"
Weight 53%138 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
Unidentified Person — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5639
Unidentified Person — Brooklyn, New York
UP5639 • Found Nov 6, 2005
View case
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 21 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"
Weight 66%147 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6143
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP6143 • Found Nov 17, 1999
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 78%Est. 70–90 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'7"
Weight 67%148 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
Jane Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP8507
Jane Doe — Bronx, New York
UP8507 • Found Aug 23, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%12 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"
Weight 28%120 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
Jane Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP8197
Jane Doe — Queens, New York
UP8197 • Found Feb 10, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same state
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 52%5'3" vs 5'7"
Weight 99%179 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
Jane Doe — North East, Maryland - unidentified case UP1866
Jane Doe — North East, Maryland
UP1866 • Found Mar 19, 1986
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 50–59 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 69%129 mi away
TimingFound 15 months after last seen
Height 84%5'5" vs 5'7"
Weight 18%113 lb vs 200 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
Jane Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5543
Jane Doe — New York, New York
UP5543 • Found Jun 17, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away, same state
TimingFound 22 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'7"
Weight 100%208 lb vs 200 lb
Eyes 0%Blue vs Brown
76%Possible
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP6824
Jane Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP6824 • Found Sep 16, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Female
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 50 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 13 years after last seen
Height 20%5'1" vs 5'7"
Weight 75%155 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.