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

Keith Sparrow Missing Person Case

Last seen in Victorville, California on Aug 26, 1991

Create Press Release
Create Social Post
Create Flyer

Victim Details

Jan 31, 2013

Jan 10, 2020

Keith

Sparrow

53

18

70 inches

180 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Aug 26, 1991

Victorville

California

San Bernardino County

92395

13020

Oceanside Police Department

Oceanside

California

San Diego County

92054

Elizabeth Bunn

Senior Field Evidence Technician

3855 Mission Avenue, California

7604354900

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.ci.oceanside.ca.us/gov/police/default.asp

91-018405

Aug 31, 1991

Oceanside Police Department

Black

Brown

Brown

Oct 6, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP19123) and 7 other sources
Keith Sparrow, an 18-year-old man from Victorville, California, was last seen on August 26, 1991. He lived with his girlfriend in the Spring Valley Lake area. On the day of his disappearance, Keith seemed cheerful, even giving his infant daughter a bath for the first time. Later that day, an acquaintance, Octavio "Tavo" Romero, arrived at Keith’s home, and the two left together. Keith did not take any of his belongings, including his wallet, and he was never heard from again.

In 2012, Romero was charged with Keith's murder, along with the murder of Spencer Watts, another mutual acquaintance. Watts had been found shot to death in a shallow grave just days after Keith’s disappearance. It is believed that Keith's murder was linked to his involvement in drug sales, and his body is thought to be buried in the Adelanto area, though it has never been found. Romero was convicted of both murders in 2012, but Keith’s remains remain undiscovered.
Last Seen: Aug 26, 1991

Links to Additional Sources (7)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Man gets life in 1991 cold case murders - Victorville Daily Press">Man gets life in 1991 cold case murders - Victorville Daily Press
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP19123
  • Keith Sparrow - The Charley Project
  • Keith Sparrow | International Missing Persons Wiki | Fandom
  • Sparrow, Keith Sept 1991 - Porchlight International for the Missing ...
  • End in sight for 1991 cold case - Victorville Daily Press
  • California man arrested in cold case killings

    • 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 — Rancho Cucamonga, California
    UP2527 • Found Oct 28, 1995
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–26 vs 18 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%32 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
    Weight 92%155 lb vs 180 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    83%Moderate
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP3671 • Found Sep 3, 1994
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 14–24 vs 18 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%62 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
    Weight 76%140 lb vs 180 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    83%Moderate
    John Doe — Barstow, California
    UP2539 • Found Dec 31, 1993
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 18 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%32 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 2 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
    Weight 88%209 lb vs 180 lb
    Hair 60%Brown vs Black
    82%Moderate
    John Doe — Moreno Valley, California - unidentified case UP6963
    John Doe — Moreno Valley, California
    UP6963 • Found Jul 8, 2008
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–25 vs 18 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 92%38 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 17 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%183 lb vs 180 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    82%Moderate
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP3678 • Found Aug 5, 1994
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 18 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%62 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
    Weight 62%130 lb vs 180 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Riverside, California - unidentified case UP7022
    John Doe — Riverside, California
    UP7022 • Found Jun 1, 1998
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 16–25 vs 18 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%34 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 7 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"
    Weight 62%130 lb vs 180 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Rancho Cucamonga, California - unidentified case UP2525
    John Doe — Rancho Cucamonga, California
    UP2525 • Found Aug 16, 1996
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 18 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%32 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 5 years after last seen
    Height 52%5'6" vs 5'10"
    Weight 86%149 lb vs 180 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    Eyes 100%Brown vs Brown
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Long Beach, California
    UP3613 • Found Apr 23, 1995
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–25 vs 18 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 85%66 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
    Weight 99%161 lb vs 180 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    80%Moderate
    John Doe — Pinyon Pines, California
    UP7046 • Found Nov 13, 1994
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 18 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 81%79 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%175 lb vs 180 lb
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Winterhaven, California - unidentified case UP13309
    John Doe — Winterhaven, California
    UP13309 • Found Apr 2, 1993
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 18 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 56%196 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 19 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%185 lb vs 180 lb
    Hair 100%Black vs Black
    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)

    Keith Sparrow, 18, vanished from Victorville, California after leaving his Spring Valley Lake home... ...Read More
    11/25/2024

    Other Missing Cases from Victorville, California

    Diego Flores missing person case in Victorville, California

    Diego Flores

    Missing: Oct 23, 2007
    Diego Alejandro Flores, a 2-year-old boy, went missing on October 23, 2007, from Victorville ...Read More
    Michael Pickering missing person case in Victorville, California

    Michael Pickering

    Missing: Apr 16, 1971
    Michael Lee Pickering, a 20-year-old man, was last seen on April 16, 1971, in Victorville ...Read More
    Joseph Aranda missing person case in Victorville, California

    Joseph Aranda

    Missing: Jul 10, 2025
    Joseph Richard Aranda, 32, was reported missing from Victorville, California, after he was last seen ...Read More
    Jalen Lanni missing person case in Victorville, California

    Jalen Lanni

    Missing: Feb 18, 2025
    Jalen Ivie Lanni, a 17-year-old male, was last seen in Victorville, California on February 18, 2025. ...Read More