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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 (MP80205) and 1 other source
In the spring of 2001, a profound mystery began to unfold in the small town of Houston, Missouri. On April 3rd of that year, 58-year-old John W. Simon, a local resident, set out from his home with a specific destination in mind. He was traveling to Columbia, Missouri, for a medical appointment at the Harry S. Truman Veterans Hospital. Dressed in blue jeans, a blue jean jacket, and black and white tennis shoes, he began the journey in his 1998 white Lincoln Town Car. However, Mr. Simon never arrived at his scheduled appointment, and what started as a routine trip soon became a long and bewildering missing person case.

The first indication that something was amiss came with the discovery of his vehicle. Mr. Simon's white Lincoln Town Car was found abandoned, left strangely in the median of US Highway 63 and Highway 163, just south of his destination city of Columbia. The car was empty, and there was no sign of its driver. The discovery of the abandoned vehicle on a major highway intensified the concern for his welfare and prompted an immediate investigation by law enforcement. Searches were initiated, and authorities began the difficult task of piecing together a timeline of his last known movements, but the trail seemed to stop abruptly with the discovery of his car.

Years have passed since John Simon was last seen, and his disappearance remains an unresolved and deeply troubling case for his community and the investigating authorities at the Houston Police Department. Despite the passage of time, no significant leads have emerged to explain what happened to him after he left his car on that highway median. The circumstances surrounding his vanishing are undefined, leaving a void of information and a series of unanswered questions. The case is a somber reminder of a man who embarked on a simple journey and vanished without a trace, leaving behind a mystery that endures to this day.

Last Seen: Apr 3, 2001

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

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.

75%Possible
John Doe — Missouri City, Missouri
UP5304 • Found Apr 19, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 58 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 58%183 mi away, same state
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%6'2" vs 5'5"–6'5"
Weight 100%172 lb vs 120–220 lb
Hair 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.