Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP70502) and 2 other sources
In the late summer of 2001, a 53-year-old man named Joseph Murph vanished from his neighborhood of Crown Heights in Brooklyn, New York. He was last seen on August 8th of that year. At the time of his disappearance, Joseph was described as a Black male, standing at approximately five feet eight inches tall and weighing around 110 pounds. He had graying hair and brown eyes. His case is a quiet one, with very few details publicly available, leaving his loved ones and community with unanswered questions that have stretched over two decades.

The circumstances surrounding Joseph Murph's disappearance remain a mystery, as the official record states his last known location is unknown. There is no public information regarding what he was wearing on the day he went missing, or any personal items he may have had with him. The lack of detailed information has made it incredibly difficult for investigators and the public to piece together the events leading up to his disappearance. The New York City Police Department's Missing Persons Squad is the agency handling his case, but without new leads, the investigation has grown cold over the years.

The case of Joseph Murph is a somber reminder of the many individuals who disappear without a trace, leaving behind a painful void for their families. With no reported sightings and a lack of media attention over the years, his story has largely remained untold. The official files note he had a beard at the time he went missing, but beyond this and other basic physical descriptors, little else is known. The passage of time has not brought any new significant information to light, and his disappearance is an unresolved case shrouded in ambiguity, a silent testament to a life interrupted for unknown reasons.

Last Seen: Aug 8, 2001

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.

87%Strong
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey - unidentified case UP1747
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP1747 • Found Jun 2, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 42–57 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 99%13 mi away
TimingFound 22 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 87%128 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
84%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP5774
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP5774 • Found Apr 23, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 53
Race 100%Black
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 8 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
Weight 53%144 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Passaic, New Jersey - unidentified case UP10565
John Doe — Passaic, New Jersey
UP10565 • Found Feb 13, 2011
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–60 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 98%16 mi away
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 5'8"
Weight 96%123 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
83%Moderate
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey - unidentified case UP1733
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP1733 • Found May 2, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 98%Est. 55–65 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 99%13 mi away
TimingFound 21 months after last seen
Height 84%5'10" vs 5'8"
Weight 43%148 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP100480
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP100480 • Found Feb 7, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–70 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%6 mi away, same county
TimingFound 22 years after last seen
Height 84%5'6" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%102 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — Bronx, New York - unidentified case UP5693
John Doe — Bronx, New York
UP5693 • Found Jan 9, 2003
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 99%13 mi away, same state
TimingFound 17 months after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"
Weight 36%151 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
82%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5790
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5790 • Found Oct 16, 2002
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 55–80 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%7 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"
Weight 51%75 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
81%Moderate
John Doe — Kew Gardens, New York - unidentified case UP76663
John Doe — Kew Gardens, New York
UP76663 • Found Dec 14, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%6 mi away, same state
TimingFound 19 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%115 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP12774
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP12774 • Found Jan 14, 2014
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%2 mi away, same county
TimingFound 12 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'8"
Weight 100%101 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 70%Black vs Gray
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
81%Moderate
John Doe — New York, New York - unidentified case UP5569
John Doe — New York, New York
UP5569 • Found Dec 18, 2007
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 97%Est. 60–70 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 100%8 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"
Weight 0%166 lb vs 110 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
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.