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 (MP23858) and 8 other sources
In the spring of 1985, a family in Braintree, Massachusetts, was eagerly preparing for a joyous occasion, a wedding that would unite their family in celebration. However, just four days before he was meant to walk his sister down the aisle, 30-year-old David Mark Wheeler vanished, leaving behind a void of information and a lifetime of questions for his loved ones. On May 7, 1985, David was last seen leaving his mother's residence on Livoli Avenue in Braintree. He was reportedly in the company of his new brother-in-law at the time. When he failed to appear at his sister's wedding, a day he was anticipated to play a significant role in, the alarm was sounded, and a search for David began.

Described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes, David stood approximately 5'11" tall and weighed around 175 pounds. At the time of his disappearance, he may have had a beard. His appearance was marked by a few distinct features, including a tattoo of his nickname, "Dave," on his upper arm. He also had a significant scar that ran from his hip to the back of his knee, the result of a prior surgery to remove a tumor. This surgery had also left one of his legs shorter than the other. The circumstances surrounding his departure from his mother's home with his brother-in-law remain unclear, as does what transpired in the moments and days that followed.

The days turned into weeks, the weeks into years, and the years into decades, yet there has been no sign of David Wheeler. The Braintree Police Department opened an investigation into his disappearance, but the case has yielded few answers. The initial hope of a swift return faded, replaced by the enduring pain of not knowing what happened to a beloved son and brother. The case of David Mark Wheeler is a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the lasting impact of a person's unexplained absence. The lack of resolution has left his family in a state of perpetual limbo, forever waiting for an answer that may never come. His disappearance serves as a somber overview of the many cold cases that linger in the files of law enforcement, each one representing a family torn apart by uncertainty and a life cut short under unknown circumstances.

Last Seen: Apr 27, 1985

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.

81%Moderate
John Doe — Methuen, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP14202
John Doe — Methuen, Massachusetts
UP14202 • Found Oct 28, 2000
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 35–45 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%37 mi away, same state
TimingFound 16 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11"–6'5" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%165 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Boston, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP15715
John Doe — Boston, Massachusetts
UP15715 • Found Jul 20, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 60–65 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same state
TimingFound 31 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%181 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Everett, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP15890
John Doe — Everett, Massachusetts
UP15890 • Found May 2, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–60 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%14 mi away, same state
TimingFound 31 years after last seen
Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%157 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
80%Moderate
John Doe — Somerville, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP14725
John Doe — Somerville, Massachusetts
UP14725 • Found Dec 13, 2009
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 44–46 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 99%13 mi away, same state
TimingFound 25 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%182 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Lowell, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP15888
John Doe — Lowell, Massachusetts
UP15888 • Found Mar 12, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 55–60 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%33 mi away, same state
TimingFound 31 years after last seen
Height 100%6'0" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%156 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
79%Possible
John Doe — Smithfield, Rhode Island - unidentified case UP12497
John Doe — Smithfield, Rhode Island
UP12497 • Found Jun 18, 1987
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 25–35 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 94%34 mi away
TimingFound 2 years after last seen
Height 36%5'5" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 70%122 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Boston, Massachusetts - unidentified case UP15944
John Doe — Boston, Massachusetts
UP15944 • Found May 16, 2006
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 43 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same state
TimingFound 21 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 81%131 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Boston, Massachusetts
UP15971 • Found Mar 14, 2004
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same state
TimingFound 19 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 97%145 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
78%Possible
John Doe — Massachusetts - unidentified case UP14790
John Doe — Massachusetts
UP14790 • Found Aug 4, 1988
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 25–45 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 93%35 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 97%200 lb vs 165–180 lb
77%Possible
John Doe — Boston, Massachusetts
UP57694 • Found Feb 18, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 30 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%11 mi away, same state
TimingFound 34 years after last seen
Height 52%5'6" vs 5'10"–6'0"
Weight 100%162 lb vs 165–180 lb
Hair 70%Gray 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.