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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 (MP12193) and 1 other source
In the autumn of 1982, a disquieting mystery began to unfold in Rochester, New York, with the disappearance of Welhelm Mevs. On October 30, the 30-year-old man was last seen as he headed to work. At the time, he was described as a Black male with black hair and brown eyes, standing at 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 175 pounds. When he was last seen, he was wearing a red plaid shirt and blue jeans. The initial, and most puzzling, clue in his case was the discovery of his truck, which was found abandoned near his residence, a detail that only deepened the concern for his welfare.

The days turned into weeks, and with no word from Mevs, his case became a long-standing and painful question for his family and the Rochester community. The circumstances of his disappearance were unnervingly sparse; he had simply vanished while undertaking the routine act of going to his job. The Rochester Police Department was tasked with the investigation into his whereabouts, but the trail was cold from the start. The lack of available information left little for investigators to work with, and the case has remained without significant developments for decades.

The case of Welhelm Mevs is a somber reminder of the many individuals who have gone missing, leaving behind lives, families, and unanswered questions. His disappearance is categorized as an endangered missing person case, a classification that underscores the potential for harm. Decades have passed since he was last seen, and the few details available paint a picture of a man who was a part of the community before suddenly being gone. The discovery of his truck so close to his home suggests that his journey to work was interrupted almost as soon as it began, but what transpired on that October day remains unknown. The investigation by the Rochester Police Department remains open, a silent testament to a life interrupted and a mystery that endures.

Last Seen: Oct 30, 1982

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.

83%Moderate
John Doe — Brighton, New York
UP9873 • Found Aug 16, 1985
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%3 mi away, same county
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"
Weight 86%205 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
77%Possible
John Doe — Grand Island, New York - unidentified case UP62589
John Doe — Grand Island, New York
UP62589 • Found Aug 16, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 18–35 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 84%69 mi away, same state
TimingFound 16 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'1"
Weight 100%168 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
76%Possible
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio
UP1869 • Found Sep 11, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 51%238 mi away
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'1"
Weight 95%197 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Rochester, New York - unidentified case UP12238
John Doe — Rochester, New York
UP12238 • Found Apr 11, 1987
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 36%5'8" vs 6'1"
Weight 100%175 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
76%Possible
John Doe — Baltimore, Maryland - unidentified case UP1893
John Doe — Baltimore, Maryland
UP1893 • Found Feb 25, 1984
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 48%270 mi away
TimingFound 16 months after last seen
Height 84%6'3" vs 6'1"
Weight 100%172 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
UP55416 • Found Apr 11, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 49%255 mi away
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10"–6'1" vs 6'1"
Weight 100%180–210 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Cleveland, Ohio
UP15806 • Found Jul 19, 1983
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 30
Race 100%Black
Location 51%239 mi away
TimingFound 9 months after last seen
Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"
Weight 100%158 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP7496
John Doe — New York, New York
UP7496 • Found Aug 12, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 50%249 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%6'2" vs 6'1"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Lewiston, New York - unidentified case UP10212
John Doe — Lewiston, New York
UP10212 • Found Jun 22, 1991
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 83%72 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 68%5'10" vs 6'1"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
75%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP9700
John Doe — New York, New York
UP9700 • Found Jun 10, 1989
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–50 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 50%251 mi away, same state
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 6'1"
Weight 74%135 lb vs 175 lb
Hair 100%Black 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.