William Watson was 72 when he was last seen on May 5, 1982, in Pacifica, California. He had recently undergone major surgery and was showing signs of confusion and forgetfulness before he disappeared. On the day he vanished he was driving a brown 1972 Datsun B210, California plate 488TNP; the car was later found abandoned in Santa Clara County with no further clues about his whereabouts.

Watson was 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 150 pounds, with gray hair and blue eyes. The case remains unsolved and there has been little additional information over the years. Anyone who saw William or that Datsun in May 1982, or who has information about his disappearance, is asked to come forward.