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 (MP8803) and 5 other sources
Mark Allen Merritt, age 21, was last seen on May 1, 1982, in Big Spring, Texas. At the time of his disappearance, he was a patient at the Big Spring State Hospital. Mark, who had a disability, vanished without a trace and has not been seen or heard from since that day. Very few details about the circumstances of his disappearance have been made available publicly, and his case remains unsolved.

Mark is described as a Caucasian male with black hair and brown eyes, standing between 5'11" and 6'3" and weighing 210 to 220 pounds. He may have had facial hair, including a mustache or beard, at the time he went missing. Investigators consider his disappearance suspicious and have classified his case as "endangered missing."

Despite the passage of time, no substantial leads have emerged in Mark's case. His family and local authorities continue to seek information that could provide answers. The Taylor County Sheriff's Office remains the investigating agency.

Last Seen: May 1, 1982

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.

76%Possible
John Doe — Fort Worth, Texas - unidentified case UP4521
John Doe — Fort Worth, Texas
UP4521 • Found Aug 20, 1984
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 17–30 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 51%243 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"–6'2"
Weight 73%160 lb vs 210–220 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Fort Stockton, Texas
UP104548 • Found Oct 31, 1987
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 70%125 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%6'1"–6'3" vs 5'11"–6'2"
Weight 100%180–200 lb vs 210–220 lb
Hair 15%Red vs Black
75%Possible
John Doe — Texas - unidentified case UP3670
John Doe — Texas
UP3670 • Found Dec 2, 1996
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 23–30 vs 21 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 79%85 mi away, same state
TimingFound 15 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'11"–6'2"
Weight 49%140 lb vs 210–220 lb
Hair 60%Brown vs Black

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.