Todd Eugene Collett, age 3, vanished from the San Marcos subdivision in Goleta, California, on January 23, 1964. He had been playing outside with his twin brother and a friend near a construction site. The twin reportedly stayed behind while Todd crossed into the site with the friend; about 20 minutes later the friend’s mother collected her boy, who said Todd might have gone toward a fire or a bulldozer on the site.

An extensive search followed, including checks of nearby septic systems and demolition fires that burned for four hours, but no trace of Todd was found. Residents later recalled a strange man in the neighborhood that day — described with a black beard, light skin, green eyes, and a blazer bearing a New Zealand insignia — who was never identified and whose involvement, if any, remains unclear. Todd had a large surgical scar from a prior accident and a head injury that caused him to fall asleep unexpectedly. The disappearance remains unsolved.

If anyone remembers Todd, the neighborhood, or the unidentified man seen that day, please share information that might help the investigation.