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 (MP8040) and 9 other sources
On a summer night in early June of 1990, an 18-year-old man named Douglas E. Goodwin vanished from Rome, New York. At the time, Douglas was navigating a period of transition in his life. He had left his parents' home and was living a transient lifestyle. For a few weeks, he had been staying in Utica with his girlfriend and her mother. However, a recent argument had led to the decision that he should move out. Douglas was enrolled in a graphic arts program at the time. Complicating matters, his girlfriend was pregnant with his child. He disappeared before he had the chance to collect his personal belongings from her home, and she would later give birth to a son who would never meet his father.

The last confirmed sighting of Douglas Goodwin was on June 8, 1990, when he was seen leaving a bar called DJ's on Martin Street in Rome. He was not alone; with him was his 16-year-old coworker, Mark Seelman, who also went missing that night. The two were reportedly seen in the parking lot of the bar around 12:30 AM, engaged in a conversation with an unidentified man. Eyewitness accounts suggest that the pair may have departed in a green-colored vehicle, possibly a Chevrolet Malibu or Nova from the late 1970s. Neither Douglas nor Mark have ever been seen or heard from again.

In the decades that have passed since Douglas and Mark disappeared, their case has grown cold, leaving families with unanswered questions. The circumstances of their disappearance have led investigators and loved ones to suspect foul play was involved. The investigation has encountered many leads that ultimately led to dead ends. A significant but ultimately fruitless lead emerged in 2001, when an individual in Missouri was found to be using Mark Seelman's name and Social Security number; however, authorities determined it was a case of identity theft and not the missing teen. The case remains an unsolved and painful mystery. The overall investigation into what happened to Douglas Goodwin and Mark Seelman continues, focusing on the events that transpired after the two young men left a local bar and vanished into the night.

Last Seen: Jun 8, 1990

Possible Unidentified Matches (7)

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 — New York, New York - unidentified case UP8460
John Doe — New York, New York
UP8460 • Found Aug 20, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 57%188 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%175 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Cornwall, New York - unidentified case UP9820
John Doe — Cornwall, New York
UP9820 • Found Mar 19, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–35 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 66%143 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6047
John Doe — New York, New York
UP6047 • Found May 1, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 58%185 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%154 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
76%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP8534
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP8534 • Found Sep 7, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 80%Est. 20–30 vs 18
Race 100%White
Location 57%192 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 months after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
Weight 95%140 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP6071
John Doe — New York, New York
UP6071 • Found Aug 8, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 16–20 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 58%184 mi away, same state
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%156 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 60%Black vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP6309
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP6309 • Found Aug 12, 1998
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–40 vs 18 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 57%192 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
Weight 85%132 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 60%Hazel vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP8090
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP8090 • Found Jun 26, 1990
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 77%Est. 20–35 vs 18
Race 100%White
Location 58%183 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 weeks after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 100%145 lb vs 160 lb
Hair 60%Black 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.