Please view the websites below, featuring other cases:
Courtesy of CBS News, Channel 5
Thousands of murders remain unsolved across the nation.
But now police are getting help from amateur detectives working online.
Jim Acosta and Jamie Reese report on this new kind of private eye.
-An amateur investigator has been turning to music fans at Bonnaroo to search for people who've gone missing from other concerts. This search is not happening on the ground; it’s happening online.
-Even the people camped out at Bonnaroo have access to an Internet cafe and cell phones that can search the Web.
-So, an investigator in Livingston, Tenn. is hoping those music fans can solve some very old cases.
-Forgive Todd Matthews if he's not sure of the lineup at Bonnaroo. His interest isn't in the music.
-Matthews said he hopes at least one of Bonnaroo’s 80,000 can help him solve the disappearance cases of music fans at other concerts. Some of those cases are over 30 years old.
-“It seems to be like a cult following, so maybe that’s the type of people we need to be targeting with this,” Internet sleuth Todd Matthews said. “There's seven people that have been missing either on their way to, from or during a Grateful Dead concert.”
-He has e-mailed flyers to hotels near the festival and posted a Bonnaroo link on the missing music fans Web site.
-“I'm hoping to reach somebody that is somehow related to them, you know, circumstantially, they like the same thing. … It could happen,” Matthews said.
-He's so sure, because it has happened.
-By his count, Matthews and his squad of volunteer Internet sleuths have helped identify 36 missing people, beginning with the Kentucky Tent Girl case.
-Matthew's father-in-law found her body in 1968.
-Matthews found her name 30 years later. These days, the clues come faster from Web sites, chat rooms and Internet postings.
-“You always knew there was a big world, but when you get online, it’s unreal,” Matthews said.
-The trick is to target the search.
-"The right group is going to pay most attention to something. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't,” Matthews said.
-And if Bonnaroo ends without closing a case, Matthews won't lose hope of finding the missing.
-“Some of these cases are like 30 years old. They're not going anywhere,” he said.
-Many of the people attending Bonnaroo weren't even born when these concert goers disappeared, but Matthews has solved colder cases than these.
-Sometimes it just takes one person and one clue.
Click links below to view videos of these news briefs
Unidentified Female
"Summerfield Jane Doe"
Found: September 6, 1986 outside Summerfield, Saint Clair County, Illinois.
Cause of Death: Victim had been strangled with a piece of her clothing, within 24 hours of death.
Estimated Age: - 21 years old. Estimated date of birth is 1960 -1967.
Approximate Height and Weight: 4'11"; 110 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Curly brown hair; brown eyes. She had a mole on her upper left arm, a small scar on her left shoulder and a scar on the back of her right wrist (possibly from a burn). No tattoos. Small stature, wore children's size clothing.
Dental: : The victim had good oral hygiene with no stain or calculus. She had endodontic treatment in #9 at age 10-12 (early to mid 1970s); lateral incisor endodontics several years later and fabrication of 3-unit FPD; and loss of tooth #30 at very young age, with subsequent good alignment of #29 and #31 (only a 1mm diastema). Other oral findings include: both bridge abutments (maxillary left central and right lateral) had endodontic therapy, the right lateral has a Para Post build up; and right maxillary and left mandibular molars are only partially erupted. Occlusal amalgams have been placed on the maxillary right first bicuspid; the first and second molar and the left second molar; a mesio-occlusal on the left first molar; and occlusal fillings on the mandibular right second molar and left first and second molars. There are proximal mesial caries on the maxillary left first molar, distal of the mandibular first molar and mesial of the second molar. The presence or absence of #16 is unknown; endodontic treatment of #9 is wide fill; endodontic treatment of lateral incisor (#7) is not wide fill; fixed partial denture does not exhibit an access opening (probably fabricated after treatment of lateral incisor; timing of loss of #8 is unknown; alloy radiopacity suggests a base metal substructure; and when viewed from the occlusal, #4 is rotated clockwise. A base was placed under amalgams on #2, 3, 5, 18 and 31 that appears to be zinc phosphate or cement of similar radiopacity. Size of caries on #14, 15, 18 and 19 suggest the victim did not receive active dental treatment for several years prior to her death.
Clothing: She was wearing a salmon-colored bodysuit. She had a gold bracelet on her right wrist. A silver band ring with a clear stone in the middle and an a plain silver band were both worn on her right hand. On her left hand ring finger she wore an opal ring that had 4 opals with a clear stone center. Assorted clothing and jewelry she had been carrying in a travel bag was found at the scene.
Case History:
The victim was found by a farmer harvesting corn just outside Summerfield. She had been strangled with a piece of her clothing, and her nude body was left in the cornfield. Her pelvic area had been savagely slashed and mutilated by a killer who left behind relatively small, Western-style boot prints. Investigators received a telephone call in August 2002, from a man who described a recent conversation with an acquaintance, a small-time burglar, who in 1986 lived in Summerfield. The caller said his acquaintance talked about killing a young woman and leaving her body in a field near Summerfield. The suspect is in state prison on an unrelated charge. In 2001, investigators were contacted by a psychic who claimed that the victim came from North Carolina, but a probe of certain landmarks provided by the psychic led nowhere. Another lead is that the victim may have been a follower of the rock band "The Grateful Dead" and was in the metro-east because she was hitchhiking to the band's next concert.
If you have any information on the identity of this woman or the circumstances involved in her murder, please contact:
St. Clair County Sheriff's Office
618-277-3504
You can remain anonymous if you wish when submitting information.
NCIC Number: U-214712509
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency about this case.
or see alternative contact info at bottom of page.
Unidentified Male
Found: Located on July 20, 1995 in Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia.
Cause of Death: Cause of death was a traffic accident
Estimated Age: 20 - 30 years old
Approximate Height and Weight: 6'2". He weighed 85 lbs. after one year of hospitalization.
Distinguishing Characteristics: Brown eyes; black hair.
DNA: : Available.
Tattoos: A Serpent or Dragon on the chest and stomach. The word Virgo in blue on the left shoulder. A red and blue flaming Star or Planet in the web between the thumb and index finger.
A Globe surrounded by letters on the left forearm. The tattoos were somewhat recent.
Other: He was using the name Stephen.
Case History:
Atlanta police picked up the unidentified man on the side of Interstate 75 late at night on July 20, 1995, and took him to Grady Hospital with severe head injuries. He might have tried to cross the busy highway, which was filled with cars leaving a "Grateful Dead" concert. He was hospitalized for almost one year and died in the hospital on June 24, 1996.
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Atlanta Police Department
404-853-4235
NCIC Number: U-194513653
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.
or see alternative contact info at bottom of page.
Mitchel Fred Weiser
Missing since: July 27, 1973 from Narrowsburg, Sullivan County, New York.
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: November 23, 1956
Age at Time of Disappearance: 16 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'7"; 140 lbs
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male. Brown hair; hazel eyes.
Marks, Scars: He has a scar on his lower lip. He wears eyeglasses.
Dentals: : His front teeth were discolored at the time of his disappearance.
AKA: Mitch
Circumstances of Disappearance:
On July 27, 1973 Weiser, and his girlfriend, Bonita Bickwit (see her case following this one) planned to hitchhik to Watkins Glen, NY for an Allman Brothers and "The Grateful Dead" concert. Weiser met Bickwit at Camp Wel-Met in upstate Narrowsburg, where she worked as a mother's helper. They set off for the concert, which was 75 miles from their location; neither has been seen since. It's believed that Weiser and Bickwit had approximately $25.00 between them. They carried backpacks and sleeping bags. Authorities initially believed that the couple simply ran off together. Bickwit and Weiser had secretly exchanged wedding rings earlier in the summer of 1973. Both attended John Dewey High School in Brooklyn. Bickwit lived in Borough Park with her family, Weiser lived in Midwood. In 2000 a witness claimed that he watched Bonnie and Mitchel both drown on their way back from Watkins Glen. The witness was on his way home from the festival and hitched a ride in a volkswagen bus. There was a young couple in the back of the bus who he claims were Bonnie and Mitchel. It was a hot day and there was a river nearby. They stopped, to cool off in the water. As the witness was taking off his shoes, he heard a shout. He turned to see that the girl was in the river. The boy, her companion, leaped in to save her. They both were swept away, down the rapids, still alive. After the incident the witness and the driver drove away from the scene. The driver said he would make an anonymous call to the police from a gas station. Police have no record that a call was made. The witness account has yet to be verified.
Anyone with information on this case should contact:
Sullivan County Sheriff's Department
845-794-7100
All information can be submitted anonymously.
NCIC Number: M-761802363
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.
or see alternative contact info at bottom of page.
A special note from www.true-ghost-stories.com
This page is dedicated to all the "Todd Matthews" out there, with the dedication and perseverance it takes to make a difference in this world.
Read how Todd Matthews devoted 10 years of his life to help solve a 30 year old case. He never gave up, until the mystery was solved.
"If we had one ounce of the dedication Mr. Matthews has...
any other pages on this website, without prior consent.
Copyright Protected (C) 2001
www.unsolvedcases.com and true-ghost-stories.com
Some Images may be disturbing.
Bridget Lee Pendell - Williamson
Missing since: January 12, 1996 from Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: June 12, 1973
Age at Time of Disappearance: 23 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'5"; 120 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Brown or blonde hair; brown or blue eyes.
Marks, Scars: Tattoo(s): "yellow rose" upper thigh / buttock unknown side; a light blue "cat" wearing a pearl neacklace on abdomen above genital area; bracelet/"tribal" design on left and right upper arms. Scars: Bilateral scars 1.5" long in antecubital area; under chin; Two 2" scars on inner arms on both left and right.
Dentals: Available
Circumstances of Disappearance:
Pendell - Williamson was last seen in Wichita, Kansas on January 12, 1996. Bridget followed
"The Grateful Dead " rock band for years and eventually ended up addicted to heroin. Her family has not seen or heard from her since December 1996. She has been listed as an endangered missing person since 1997 through the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC). She was last seen in Wichita, Kansas, but is known to travel between California, Oregon, Vermont, New York, and Arizona.
*NOTE: Different agencies give different dates and places of disappearance. Other dates and places of disappearances include: December 1996 Wichita, Kansas and July 7, 1997 in San Francisco, California.
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Santa Cruz County Sheriffs Department
Detective Alan Burt
831-454-2520
Agency Case Number: 03-3128
NCIC Number: M-023134376
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.
or see alternative contact info at bottom of page.
Bonita Mara Bickwit
Missing since: July 27, 1973 from Narrowsburg, Sullivan County, New York.
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: January 28, 1958
Age at Time of Disappearance: 15 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 4'11"; 95 lbs
Distinguishing Characteristics: White female. Brown hair; brown eyes.
Dentals: : Not available.
AKA: Bonnie
Circumstances of Disappearance:
Bickwit was working as a mother's helper at Camp Wel-Met in Narrowsburg, New York when she vanished on July 27, 1973 with her boyfriend Mitchel Weiser (see case before this one).
They planned to hitchhike to Watkins Glen, NY for an Allman Brothers and "The Grateful Dead" concert. Weiser met Bickwit at Camp Wel-Met and they set off for the concert, which was 75 miles from Narrowsburg; neither has been seen since. It's believed that Weiser and Bickwit had approximately $25.00 between them. They carried backpacks and sleeping bags. Authorities initially believed that the couple simply ran off together. Bickwit and Weiser had secretly exchanged wedding rings earlier in the summer of 1973. Both were intelligent teenagers who attended John Dewey High School in Brooklyn. Bickwit lived in Borough Park with her family when she was not working at Camp Wel-Met; Weiser lived in Midwood. Years following their disappearances, Weiser's father accepted a collect call from someone identifying herself as "Bonnie." By the time the operator was able to connect them, the caller hung up. In 2000 a witness claimed that he watched Bonnie and Mitchel both drown on their way back from Watkins Glen. The witness was on his way home from the festival and hitched a ride in a volkswagen bus. There was a young couple in the back of the bus who he claims were Bonnie and Mitchel. It was a hot day and there was a river nearby. They stopped, to cool off in the water. As the witness was taking off his shoes, he heard a shout. He turned to see that the girl was in the river. The boy, her companion, leaped in to save her. They both were swept away, down the rapids, still alive. After the incident the witness and the driver drove away from the scene. The driver said he would make an anonymous call to the police from a gas station. Police have no record that a call was made. The witness account has yet to be verified.
Anyone with information on this case should contact:
Sullivan County Sheriff's Department
845-794-7100
All information can be submitted anonymously.
NCIC Number: M-761802363
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.
or see alternative contact info at bottom of page.
Douglas Stephen Simmons
Missing since: July 10, 1990 from Raleigh, Wake County, North Carolina
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: April 9, 1970
Age at Time of Disappearance: 20 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'10; 155 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male. Brown hair; blue eyes.
Marks, Scars: : Simmons has surgical scars on his left wrist and his right ankle. He also has a healed fracture on his right ankle. He has a small scar under his left eye.
Clothing: A red and white baseball cap, a white tank top, gray bermuda shorts and white high-top Reeboks. He was also wearing a small gold rectangle key chain with the initials "DSS".
Circumstances of Disappearance:
Simmons was last seen at a "Grateful Dead" concert on July 10, 1990 in Raleigh, North Carolina at approximately 7:00 PM. He told friends that he was leaving the Carter-Finley Arena for a moment to go to his car; he never returned to the stadium. Simmons and his friends were students at the University of Western Florida at the time of his disappearance; they had driven to North Carolina to see the concert and intended to drive back to school immediately afterwards. Simmons' friends called his father in Florida to say that his son had disappeared and they could not locate him. His friends then returned to their home state. Simmons' father drove to Raleigh four days later and filed a missing person's report for his son. By the time the report was filed, most of the evidence at the scene of the concert -- if there indeed was any -- had vanished. Investigators did receive one tip which they considered to be the strongest indication of Simmons' possible whereabouts in the week following his disappearance. A woman stated that she had spoken to an unidentified man fitting Simmons' description in New Jersey on July 16, 1990 -- six days after the Grateful Dead concert in Raleigh. The man was near a rest area in New Jersey and was extremely disoriented; the witness said he did not recall his own name, but said he was from Florida. She went across the street to locate a police officer, but by the time they returned to the rest stop, the man had disappeared again. There has been no sign of Simmons since that time.
If you have any information concerning Simmons' case, please contact:
Escambia County Sheriff's Office
Detective Kent Vancil
904-436-9655
All information may be submitted anonymously.
NCIC Number: M-436174041
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.
or see alternative contact info at bottom of page.
Unidentified Male
Found: Located on June 26, 1995 in Greensville County, Virginia.
Cause of Death: Cause of death was a traffic accident
Estimated Age: 16 - 21 years old
Approximate Height and Weight: 5'8" ; 169 lbs
Distinguishing Characteristics: Natural red hair; brown eyes. His left ear was pierced but he was not wearing an earring.
Dentals: : Available. He had all of his teeth and no dental restoration work.
Clothing: He was wearing blue jeans, blue FILA Athletic shoes size 11 1/2, a necklace and and a red concert T-shirt of "The Grateful Dead", Tour 30th Anniversary 1995.
Tattoos: He had a home-made tattoo of a 5 pointed star on his left arm.
Fingerprints: Available.
Other: He had a note in his pocket that said: "To Jason, Sorry we had to go. See you around. Caroline O. and Caroline T." The note had a phone number with a 914 prefix. There was no area code. He also had two ticket stubs to a "Grateful Dead" concert at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C. on June 25, 1995
Case History:
On June 26, 1995 this victim was a passenger in a van involved in a fatal accident in Greensville County, Virginia, that killed him and the driver. The identified driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel on his way back to South Carolina. Authorities believe the unidentified passenger was picked up hitchhiking. He didn't have any identification on him and the family of the driver did not know who he was. The tickets found in the victim's pocket were traced to a Pennsylvania man who brought 20 tickets with him to the concert. Unfortunately, the man could not recall who he sold the tickets to.
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
Medicolegal Death Investigator
800-447-1706
Agency Case Number: 123526
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.
or see alternative contact info at bottom of page.
Cengiz Han Nuray
Missing since: April 27, 1995 from Santa Cruz, California.
Classification: Endangered Missing
Date Of Birth: July 25, 1977
Age at Time of Disappearance: 17 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 6'1"; 165 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male. Brown hair; brown eyes. Thin mustache and goatee.
Dentals: : He has a gap between his two front teeth. Decayed front teeth.
Clothing: Baggy clothing.
Other: DNA available.
Circumstances of Disappearance:
Nuray was last seen on April 27, 1995 at Greyhound Rock Beach in Santa Cruz, California. He was with a group of "Grateful Dead" followers. He went for a walk and left his belongings with his friends on the beach and has not been seen or heard from since.
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office
805-683-2724
Agency Case Number:
95011425
NCMEC #: NCMC812356
NCIC Number: M-844007482
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.
or see alternative contact info at bottom of page.
