Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
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 (MP36529) and 3 other sources
On a spring day in Phoenix, Arizona, April 4, 1987, a 26-year-old Black man named Rex Allen Murray was seen for the last time. He was known to be in the downtown area of the city when he vanished without a trace. Standing between 5'4' and 5'7' and weighing around 140 to 150 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, Rex's sudden disappearance left his loved ones with unanswered questions. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance are limited, and he has not been heard from since that day.

Decades have passed since Rex Murray was last seen, and the details of his case remain scarce. The passage of time has only deepened the mystery of what happened to him. Despite the lack of information, his case remains open. The Phoenix Police Department is the investigating agency, and his case was entered into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in December 2016. This entry, nearly three decades after he went missing, signifies a continued effort to find answers.

The case of Rex Allen Murray is a somber reminder of the many individuals who disappear each year, leaving behind families and communities to grapple with the unknown. With very few details available to the public, the narrative of his disappearance is one of abrupt and unresolved absence. The lack of significant developments over the years highlights the challenges faced in cold cases. Nevertheless, the hope for resolution, however distant, persists for those who remember him. The Phoenix Police Department's Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit can be contacted with any information regarding his case.

Last Seen: Apr 4, 1987

Possible Unidentified Matches (9)

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.

83%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona
UP1920 • Found Sep 30, 1988
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 24–38 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 18 months after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'4"–5'7"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
81%Moderate
John Doe — Arizona
UP1922 • Found Jun 19, 1989
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 26 when missing
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 100%5'6" vs 5'4"–5'7"
Weight 100%160 lb vs 140–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Scottsdale, Arizona - unidentified case UP77
John Doe — Scottsdale, Arizona
UP77 • Found May 20, 2005
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 19–34 vs 26 when missing
Location 100%11 mi away, same county
TimingFound 18 years after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"–5'7"
Weight 100%130 lb vs 140–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona - unidentified case UP1934
John Doe — Phoenix, Arizona
UP1934 • Found Aug 4, 1995
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 30–40 vs 26 when missing
Location 100%Same area, same county
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 84%5'2" vs 5'4"–5'7"
Weight 100%135 lb vs 140–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
77%Possible
John Doe — Arizona
UP1914 • Found Sep 23, 1987
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 26
Location 96%23 mi away, same county
TimingFound 6 months after last seen
Height 100%5'5" vs 5'4"–5'7"
77%Possible
John Doe — Mesa, Arizona - unidentified case UP148478
John Doe — Mesa, Arizona
UP148478 • Found Jul 24, 2025
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Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 27–37 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 94%31 mi away, same county
TimingFound 38 years after last seen
Height 100%5'2"–5'6" vs 5'4"–5'7"
Hair 100%Black vs Black
76%Possible
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona - unidentified case UP17702
John Doe — Tucson, Arizona
UP17702 • Found Jul 18, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 60%Est. 18–100 vs 26 when missing
Race 100%Black
Location 74%106 mi away, same state
TimingFound 15 months after last seen
Height 100%5'8" vs 5'4"–5'7"
Weight 100%144 lb vs 140–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — Eloy vicinity, Arizona - unidentified case UP7091
John Doe — Eloy vicinity, Arizona
UP7091 • Found Apr 2, 2001
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 17–29 vs 26 when missing
Location 87%57 mi away, same state
TimingFound 14 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7" vs 5'4"–5'7"
Weight 83%113 lb vs 140–150 lb
Hair 100%Black vs Black
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
75%Possible
John Doe — El Mirage, Arizona
UP1960 • Found Sep 11, 1992
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 23–28 vs 26 when missing
Location 98%18 mi away, same county
TimingFound 5 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4" vs 5'4"–5'7"
Hair 60%Brown vs Black

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.