Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
Marvin Shahan missing person case profile photo

Marvin Shahan Missing Person Case

Last seen in El Cajon, California on Nov 1, 1969

Create Press Release
Create Social Post
Create Flyer

Victim Details

Jul 24, 2018

Dec 20, 2020

Marvin

Shahan

82

25

69 inches

160 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Nov 1, 1969

El Cajon

California

Ventura County

39233

Ventura County Sheriff's Office-Major Crimes Investigations

Camarillo

California

Ventura County

93012

5177 Camino Ruiz, California

8053838704

County

Law Enforcement

http://www.vcsd.org/index.php

037107

Ventura County Sheriff's Office-Major Crimes Investigations

10717

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 11, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP51388) and 8 other sources
Marvin Blake Shahan, a 25-year-old man, was last seen on November 1, 1969, in El Cajon, California. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as 5'9" tall, weighing around 160 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. Marvin also wore thick eyeglasses and had a distinctive horseshoe-shaped birthmark on his thigh.

The last known contact he had with his family was when he spoke to his sister in either December 1969 or January 1970. During this conversation, Marvin mentioned his plans to seek a job on the crew of a boat in Ventura or the Santa Barbara Harbor. After that, he disappeared without a trace and never contacted his family again. His family reported the case to the local authorities, but it remains unclear whether a formal missing person report was filed at that time. Years later, in 2003, his sister officially reported him missing.

Despite being declared legally dead in 2000, Marvin's case remains open, with little information available regarding what may have happened to him after he left for the harbor job. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office is still seeking any leads related to his disappearance.
Last Seen: Nov 1, 1969

Links to Additional Sources (8)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Marvin Blake Shahan - The Charley Project
  • Marvin Blake Shahan Missing Veteran
  • 6258DMCA - Marvin Blake Shahan - Doe Network
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP51388 | NamUs
  • MARVIN BLAKE SHAHAN: Missing from El Cajon, CA - 1 Nov 1969
  • Cold Cases - Ventura County Sheriff's Office
  • Veteran Doe | Missing Person Marvin Blake Shahan Date of Last ...
  • Missing Veterans & Active Duty Military

    • 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.

    85%Strong
    John Doe — California - unidentified case UP16758
    John Doe — California
    UP16758 • Found Nov 9, 1979
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%7 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'9"
    Weight 100%150 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    84%Moderate
    John Doe — La Canada, California
    UP50390 • Found Sep 26, 1970
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 25
    Race 100%White
    Location 87%56 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 11 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"
    Weight 60%114 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    84%Moderate
    John Doe — Wilmington, California - unidentified case UP4465
    John Doe — Wilmington, California
    UP4465 • Found Feb 6, 1973
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 17–25 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%63 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'5"–5'9" vs 5'9"
    Weight 100%135–160 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    82%Moderate
    John Doe — Marina del Rey, California
    UP4185 • Found Oct 9, 1985
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 90%47 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 16 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'9"
    Weight 100%145 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    82%Moderate
    John Doe — Hollywood, California
    UP4372 • Found Jul 20, 1980
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–27 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 89%50 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"
    Weight 83%130 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    82%Moderate
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP4413 • Found Mar 19, 1979
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 34–44 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 88%56 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'9"
    Weight 95%180 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    82%Moderate
    John Doe — Industry, California - unidentified case UP4447
    John Doe — Industry, California
    UP4447 • Found Sep 27, 1976
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 83%72 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'9"
    Weight 100%171 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Wilmington, California - unidentified case UP72085
    John Doe — Wilmington, California
    UP72085 • Found Apr 22, 1973
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 17–25 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%63 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 75%5'2"–5'10" vs 5'9"
    Weight 100%135–160 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP4120 • Found Jun 23, 1987
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 88%56 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 18 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'9"
    Weight 100%160 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    81%Moderate
    John Doe — California
    UP4127 • Found Apr 10, 1987
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 30–45 vs 25 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 88%56 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 17 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'9"
    Weight 100%160 lb vs 160 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    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.

    Latest News

    View All

    Forum Posts (1)

    Marvin Blake Shahan was 25 when he was last seen in El Cajon, California, on November 1, 1969. He... ...Read More
    04/05/2024

    Other Missing Cases from El Cajon, California

    Luis Mexicanoz missing person case in El Cajon, California

    Luis Mexicanoz

    Missing: Oct 16, 2018
    Luis Alvarado Mexicanoz, a 42-year-old Hispanic male, was last seen on October 16, 2018, in El ...Read More
    Douglas Pengilley missing person case in El Cajon, California

    Douglas Pengilley

    Missing: Jan 1, 1992
    Douglas Edward Pengilley, an 18-year-old from El Cajon, California, was last seen on January 1 ...Read More
    Benjamin C. Hernandez missing person case in El Cajon, California

    Benjamin C. Hernandez

    Missing: Mar 1, 2019
    Benjamin C. Hernandez, a 63-year-old Hispanic male, was last seen in El Cajon, California on March ...Read More
    Matthew Patton missing person case in El Cajon, California

    Matthew Patton

    Missing: Dec 10, 2020
    Matthew Patton, a 30-year-old man from El Cajon, California, has been missing since December 10 ...Read More
    Daniel Galicia-Aguare missing person case in El Cajon, California

    Daniel Galicia-Aguare

    Missing: Apr 22, 2007
    Daniel Galicia-Aguare, a 17-year-old from El Cajon, California, went missing on April 22, 2007. At ...Read More
    Jack Waller missing person case in El Cajon, California

    Jack Waller

    Missing: Sep 27, 2007
    Jack Eugene Waller, a 53-year-old man, was last seen on September 27, 2007, in El Cajon, California. ...Read More
    James Peters missing person case in El Cajon, California

    James Peters

    Missing: Sep 3, 1988
    James Ronald Peters, a 19-year-old from El Cajon, California, was last seen on September 3, 1988. ...Read More