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 (MP4386) and 6 other sources
John Eric Lake, 37, disappeared on December 10, 1967, in Manhattan, New York. At the time, Lake was the sports editor for *Newsweek*. He had spent the evening having dinner and drinks with a female acquaintance before dropping her off at her apartment. Lake expressed a desire to accompany her inside, but she declined, and he was last seen walking toward a subway station, intending to return to his own apartment in Greenwich Village. He was never seen again.

Lake’s disappearance was not reported until four days later, and investigations were carried out by both the New York City Police Department and the Pinkerton Detective Agency, hired by *Newsweek*. At the time of his disappearance, Lake was reportedly struggling with depression, dissatisfaction at work, and financial stress following a recent divorce. Despite these challenges, his coworkers did not believe he was suicidal.

Years later, his family was shown a photograph of a deceased individual who bore a strong resemblance to Lake, but the body could not be definitively identified. Lake was declared legally dead in 1975, but his case remains unsolved. Lake had two children and was a well-respected journalist known for his work in sports.

Last Seen: Dec 10, 1967

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 — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP6834
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP6834 • Found Nov 28, 1997
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 37 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%5 mi away, same state
TimingFound 30 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 97%140 lb vs 160–190 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP7062
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP7062 • Found Dec 11, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 37 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away, same state
TimingFound 28 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%165 lb vs 160–190 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Staten Island, New York - unidentified case UP8482
John Doe — Staten Island, New York
UP8482 • Found Aug 29, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 37 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%13 mi away, same state
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%195 lb vs 160–190 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5558
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5558 • Found Oct 5, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 37 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 40 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%179 lb vs 160–190 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5555
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5555 • Found Aug 7, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–50 vs 37 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 40 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%150 lb vs 160–190 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5637
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5637 • Found Nov 2, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 37 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 38 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 95%212 lb vs 160–190 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5617
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5617 • Found Mar 2, 2005
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 37 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away, same state
TimingFound 37 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%152 lb vs 160–190 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5784
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5784 • Found Jul 16, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 40–55 vs 37 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away, same state
TimingFound 35 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%150 lb vs 160–190 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
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 37 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%4 mi away, same county
TimingFound 32 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%154 lb vs 160–190 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Queens, New York - unidentified case UP8048
John Doe — Queens, New York
UP8048 • Found Oct 12, 1993
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 37 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same state
TimingFound 26 years after last seen
Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%202 lb vs 160–190 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.