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 (MP99234) and 2 other sources
In the spring of 2012, a sense of unease settled over a family in New York when they lost contact with 53-year-old Matthew Tolan. A resident of Rockaway Park, a community nestled in the borough of Queens, Matthew was last seen on April 1st of that year. His family grew increasingly concerned as days turned into weeks without a word, a silence that was out of character for him. The last image they had of him was of a man dressed in a simple white t-shirt, khaki pants, and gray sneakers. This ordinary outfit gave no hint of the mystery that was about to unfold, a mystery that would leave his loved ones with years of unanswered questions.

Matthew is described as a white male with gray or partially gray hair and black eyes. He has a noticeable scar on his chest and a distinct limp when he walks. These physical characteristics, while providing a clear picture of the man his family knows and misses, have yet to lead to a breakthrough in his case. The New York City Police Department's Missing Persons Squad took on the investigation, documenting these details in the hopes that someone, somewhere, might recognize him and come forward with information that could help bring him home.

Over the years, the active search for Matthew Tolan has transitioned into a cold case, a quiet but persistent ache in the hearts of his family. Despite the passage of time, the official investigation remains open, a testament to the sliver of hope that refuses to be extinguished. Information about his disappearance has been shared through various online databases dedicated to missing persons, a digital footprint in a world that has largely moved on. The circumstances surrounding the day he vanished remain unclear, with no significant leads or updates to provide his family with the closure they so desperately seek. The case is a somber reminder of the many individuals who disappear without a trace, leaving behind a void filled with memories, questions, and the enduring pain of not knowing.

Last Seen: Apr 1, 2012

Links to Additional Sources (2)

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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.

79%Possible
John Doe — Staten Island, New York - unidentified case UP75898
John Doe — Staten Island, New York
UP75898 • Found Jul 3, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 98%16 mi away, same state
TimingFound 8 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 0%145 lb vs 10 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
79%Possible
John Doe — Trenton, New Jersey
UP64638 • Found Sep 4, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 45–55 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 88%54 mi away
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4"–5'10" vs 5'10"
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
78%Possible
John Doe — New Rochelle, New York
UP109779 • Found May 4, 2023
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%23 mi away, same state
TimingFound 11 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 0%82 lb vs 10 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
77%Possible
John Doe — Newark, New Jersey
UP65093 • Found Mar 9, 2019
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 48–70 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 97%21 mi away
TimingFound 7 years after last seen
Height 100%5'4"–5'10" vs 5'10"
77%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP140297
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP140297 • Found Mar 18, 2015
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same state
TimingFound 3 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 0%119 lb vs 10 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
76%Possible
John Doe — Waterbury, Connecticut
UP94477 • Found Aug 13, 2022
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 48–62 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 81%79 mi away
TimingFound 10 years after last seen
Height 100%5'7"–6'1" vs 5'10"
Hair 70%Brown vs Gray
76%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP75991
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP75991 • Found Nov 19, 2020
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–75 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%8 mi away, same state
TimingFound 9 years after last seen
Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
Weight 0%143 lb vs 10 lb
Hair 40%Brown vs Gray
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
76%Possible
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York - unidentified case UP17506
John Doe — Brooklyn, New York
UP17506 • Found Feb 5, 2018
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 55–75 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%9 mi away, same state
TimingFound 6 years after last seen
Height 68%5'7" vs 5'10"
Weight 0%190 lb vs 10 lb
Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
76%Possible
John Doe — New York - unidentified case UP16245
John Doe — New York
UP16245 • Found May 25, 2016
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 100%10 mi away, same county
TimingFound 4 years after last seen
Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
Weight 0%177 lb vs 10 lb
Hair 40%Black vs Gray
Eyes 90%Brown vs Black
76%Possible
John Doe — Pennsylvania
UP13638 • Found Oct 19, 2013
View case
Sex ✓Male
Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 53 when missing
Race 100%White
Location 82%75 mi away
TimingFound 19 months after last seen
Height 68%6'1" vs 5'10"

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.