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Case Description

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Donte Lightford, a 41-year-old Black male from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was last in contact with family on January 1, 2019. His disappearance was officially reported on October 6, 2022, and the case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System on July 3, 2025. At the time he went missing, Lightford was approximately 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed between 155 and 165 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes.

The circumstances surrounding Lightford�s disa ...Read More
Last Seen: Jan 01, 2019

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Victim Details

Jul 03, 2025

Jul 08, 2025

Donte

Lightford

48

41

67 inches

155 lbs

165 lbs

Black / African American

Male

In the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a family's life was forever altered when they lost contact with Donte Lightford. On January 1, 2019, the 41-year-old male ceased communication with his loved ones, marking the beginning of a long and painful period of uncertainty. At the time of his disappearance, Donte was described as a Black / African American male, standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing between 155 and 165 pounds. He had black hair and brown eyes. His last known location was within the 19132 zip code of Philadelphia. The circumstances surrounding Donte's disappearance are shrouded in mystery, with very few details available to the public or to aid investigators. There was no information released concerning what he was wearing on the day he was last in contact with his family, nor were there any indications of where he might have been heading. Compounding the difficulty of the search was the significant delay in officially reporting him missing. It was not until October 6, 2022, nearly four years after his last contact, that the Philadelphia Police Department formally received a missing person report. In an effort to generate new leads and bring national attention to the case, Donte Lightford's information was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs). The Philadelphia Police Department is listed as the investigating agency, continuing to seek information that might shed light on his whereabouts. The overview of this case is one of profound loss and lingering questions. A man disappeared from his family's life without a trace, and the extended period before an official investigation began left a cold trail, creating a heart-wrenching situation for all who know and care for Donte, as they continue to hope for answers.

Jan 01, 2019

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County

Philadelphia

No

171527

Philadelphia Police Department

Philadelphia

Pennsylvania

Philadelphia County

19143

Daniel Strunk

Detective

5510 Pine Street, Pennsylvania

2156863182

Local

Law Enforcement

22-16-033267

2022-10-06

Philadelphia Police Department

10466

Black

Brown

Brown

05/25/2026


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