Crime Solvers Central
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 (MP12028) and 3 other sources
On March 6, 1978, 43-year-old Donald Ray Shaw disappeared from Kansas City, Missouri. A native of Columbia, Missouri, he was described as a white male, standing at 6'1' and weighing around 225 pounds. He had brown, balding hair, green eyes, and a scar on his back. On the day he went missing, he was wearing a green jacket and green slacks. Donald was last seen leaving his job at National Account Systems, located in the 600 block of West 39th Street. He was reportedly on his way to 1125 Grand Avenue at the time of his disappearance. At the time he went missing, he had three children and served as the music director at Westside Baptist Church in Belton, Missouri.

Donald was driving his black 1973 Chevrolet Caprice with Missouri license plate number N41307. He and his vehicle have not been seen since he left his place of employment. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear, and there is little information available in his case. The Kansas City Police Department is the investigating agency, with the case number 78-012169.

The case of Donald Ray Shaw has remained unsolved for decades, leaving his family without answers. His information has been entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System under case number MP12028. Law enforcement continues to seek any information that could lead to a resolution in this long-standing missing person's case. The overview of this case is one of a sudden and unexplained disappearance that has left a void in the lives of his loved ones, with very few details to shed light on what might have happened to him after he was last seen.

Last Seen: Mar 6, 1978

Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

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 — Missouri City, Missouri
UP5304 • Found Apr 19, 2003
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Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 43 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%18 mi away, same state
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 100%6'2" vs 6'1"
Weight 73%172 lb vs 225 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Kansas City, Missouri
UP5320 • Found Oct 30, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 43 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 18 years after last seen
Height 68%5'10" vs 6'1"
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Kansas - unidentified case UP2357
John Doe — Kansas
UP2357 • Found Feb 24, 1983
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 43 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 86%60 mi away
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"
Weight 59%160 lb vs 225 lb
Hair 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.