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Case Description

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In the late summer of 1978, a sixteen-year-old boy named Randy Johnson disappeared from Newark, New Jersey, in a case that would remain a painful mystery for decades. Randy was last seen on August 20, 1978, with four of his friends: Michael McDowell, Melvin Pittman, Ernest Taylor, and Alvin Turner. The group of teenagers, who were all students at Weequahic High School except for Michael who had recently moved to East Orange, had spent part of the evening playing basketball at West Side Park. Lat ...Read More
Last Seen: Aug 20, 1978

Victim Details

Jan 27, 2026

Jan 27, 2026

Randy

Johnson

16

16

5'4 inches

145 lbs

Black

Male

Aug 20, 1978

Newark

New Jersey

Newark

Newark Police Departmen

973-733-6090

06/02/2026