Crime Solvers Central's unidentified persons database lists 16,600 unidentified people from the United States, 15,158 of them still without a name. Each one has a physical description, where and when they were found, and the agency to contact, and each is compared every day with missing person cases to suggest possible matches.
Numbers updated November 14, 2026. Crime Solvers Central has helped close more than 307 cases.
16,596 cases in the United States. Number of open cases in brackets.
There is no single database with every case. These are the main ones and what each is best for.
| Database | Run by | Covers | Area | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NamUs | U.S. Department of Justice | Missing, unidentified and unclaimed persons | U.S. | Free | The official national system, entered by medical examiners and coroners. |
| Volunteer case databases | Volunteer-run | Missing and unidentified persons | Mostly U.S. and Canada | Free | Long-running volunteer databases with case write-ups. |
| DNA Doe Project | Nonprofit | Unidentified people being worked with genetic genealogy | Mainly U.S. | Free | Identifies people through DNA and family trees. |
| Canadian national database | Federal police (Canada) | Missing and unidentified persons | Canada | Free | Canada's official national database. |
| Crime Solvers Central | Independent, volunteer-run | Unidentified persons plus missing, unclaimed, unsolved homicides | U.S. | Free | Daily matching against missing persons, statistics and a free widget. |
Unidentified case summaries and details are free to read. Photos are often post-mortem, so they are blurred in search results until you choose to view them. Members also get every source link, the forum discussions and the full list of possible missing person matches. See membership options.
Journalists and researchers are welcome to cite these numbers. For charts by state, decade, age and sex, see the statistics dashboard.
Yes. NamUs is the official U.S. system. Crime Solvers Central lists 16,600 unidentified people from NamUs and compares each one with missing person cases every day.
Crime Solvers Central scores every pair on sex, race, age, height, weight, location and dates and lists those that score 75% or higher. A possible match is a lead only; identifications are made by medical examiners and law enforcement, usually with DNA, dental records or fingerprints.
New cases are imported automatically and existing ones are re-checked nightly. The numbers on this page were last updated November 14, 2026.
Contact the medical examiner or agency listed on the case page and give them the case number. You can also enter your missing loved one in NamUs.
Crime Solvers Central is an independent, volunteer-run case research and advocacy site, not a law enforcement agency. In an emergency call 911. Questions? Contact us.
