About Underground Mysteries, Your Source For Unreported Missing People and Underrepresented Missing & Unidentified People Cases


 
Here at Underground Mysteries, formed in 2017, formally NeedToID (2005), our goal is to bring to light underrepresented and unreported missing person and unidentified people cases that have gotten little-to-no public recognition.
 
Believe it or not, many missing are never officially reported missing. Some cases are filed months or even years after a disappearance. Also, some cases that are filed with a police department may not be entered into NamUs. These cases may “fall through the cracks”.  There are also many cases that were filed several years ago, but the case files go “missing” themselves, due to changing servers, databases, crashed systems, physically lost files, files that never made it into a database, data entry error, and so forth.  There are thousands of unreported missing people (or those with “lost” files) in the USA at any given time. 
 
That is where Underground Mysteries comes into play. This site is not only designed to help authorities search “underground”, or, unreported missing person cases, but also to help find these missing people by multiple measures:
 
a) helping actively search for your loved one by use of paper trails, recreating a timeline, and searching public records / background reports / etc;
b) doing a very detailed write-up (news publication) on your loved one’s disappearance by collecting information, which is updated often;
c) video or audio podcast or poster creation for your loved one’s case;
d) social awareness (story circulation), including interaction with family members, friends, possibly old colleagues, and so forth;
e) law enforcement liaison (to help get your case into the government systems, and to help get a detective assigned to your case; and
f) forensic DNA setup and analysis, in which we setup DNA to be sent to the CODIS system and encourage a private DNA test to then extract its raw data and to upload to Gedmatch. With this DNA we then see if not only the person is a match, but we also see if maybe he or she had a child or grandchild in the system. We also build an extensive family tree. The reason for this is because– even with DNA– sometimes John and Jane Doe’s can take a while to be identified. This means they can sit in Gedmatch for months or years. Having a family tree can help speed up the process, in some instances. Because I have my own forensic genealogy company along with this (Doe Naming), I am associated with other forensic genealogy companies, and I keep up with their current cases to see if any are fitting.
 
 
I take on cases in the USA, northern Mexico, and Canada.
You may be wondering why there is a need for this service. You may even be wondering, “Wait, why are there unreported missing people out there?”
 
1. – I recently helped solve a 30 year old cold case of a girl who was never reported missing. I also recently helped find a woman who was never reported missing; I found her in Mexico. Many of these people won’t ever be found alive, as unfortunately so many missing people are Jane and John Doe’s, which is why I incorporate my forensic genealogy company alongside. Also, there are thousands of people who are not reported missing… shocking to hear, right? That’s why I started this company. A loved one could sadly sitting in an unmarked grave. The hope is to always find the missing person alive, though. We cover both ends of the spectrum, though.
 
2.- I actively work on several cases at once. I follow each case with as much time and effort as I can. I don’t just write about them and move on. I update each case and continue networking to bring tips to LE and keep working on their DNA.
 
3.- There are many unreported missing people. They are not reported because the family may have presumed their loved one ran away or was ignoring them (ie. the Tawni Mazzone case–she was ‘reported’ but there was no official report done by the police, or the Lyle Stevik case– a once-unidentified man whose family didn’t report him missing, or the Mostly Harmless case– a hiker who died while hiking whose family never reported him missing because they presumed he was ignoring them for years, just to name a few). Or, they may not be reported because the family didn’t know what to do. (It happens often.) Or, they may have in fact filed a report, but the report was lost during governmental system purges, or the case “fell through the cracks”. Or, they may not be reported because the family feared retaliation (and this one is a unique, tricky situation). Many people who were reported missing in the 1960’s through the 1980’s did not get the recognition or attention they deserved. Detectives would not take an adult missing person case very seriously at the time; the reason for that is because people are allowed to walk away. Oftentimes, the LE would just not allow a search or even a report, because it was seen as an injustice to the adult who may have just been trying to start anew. But we have to consider the other side: the endangerment. Many of these people are endangered adults. If detectives do not suspect foul play, then there is little reason for them to search. The good news is that sometimes these people really did just walk away and are alive and well. The bad news is that so many of these missing person cases that were filed but not entered into NamUs or CODIS or any governmental-searchable system are actually deceased and DID come into foul play, or had an accident and died unidentified, even though the family may have been told there was not much the LE could do. These cases are now getting new light. Again, to reiterate, many of the cases were also not reported whatsoever. And then there are some cases that were reported to an officer, but a detective was not assigned to the case… thus, in these cases, there may be little-to-no information on the internet of these cases.
 
I typically only take on cases in which there is little or no information found anywhere on the web or in governmental systems. You may research one of the cases I have worked on and presented and noticed there is tons of info on the web now. That was not the case in the past. The stories I share will gradually make a large web presence because of me gathering the info, circulating the stories, and getting the cases into NamUs and listed on other websites as well as on on my website (http://www.undergroundmysteries.com), Facebook, and other social media platforms. Law Enforcement search the internet when they cannot find a missing person match to their unidentified Doe case!
 
My website uses extensive tagging measures. Why is this helpful? Law Enforcement who are trying to identify a John/Jane Doe are aware of the astronomical amount of people who were either never reported missing or have no active report or any information found on the web. That is where I come into play. They can search my website by using tags to see if anything is fitting for their unidentified person case.
 
I am also a genealogist who works on cold case crimes, including rape and murder, through my company Doe Naming. The two companies go hand-in-hand, because not only do I do a lot of DNA analysis through U.M. but many missing people are victims of brutal crime.
 
Finally, you may be wondering, how do I even find these people? I do massive networking. I place many paid advertisements that go to Canada, the USA, and Mexico. They reach thousands of people. Then the people who need help will contact me.
 
Or, there are some cases, in which I get a tip from someone, or I find information through doing precise searches in public and private forums and websites (as well as social media). It is usually just a one-liner if posted to the web. (Example: “Hi, I’m looking for my sister who vanished in 1985.”) I reach out to them.
If for whatever reason I never hear back from this person who posted a vague description, I will write and credit their post to my page, in hopes it can now be publicly searchable and easily searchable by using precise tagging.

If you need to reach Underground Mysteries, please visit https://undergroundmysteries.com/contact/.

So in summary, this site will provide you with unreported, undocumented cases that will not be found on the Namus system or online (until I work on the case).  So, many of the cases you will see are now public on the Internet. However, as far as taking on new cases, I handle only unreported cases that have little or no web presence.  I also handle “underrepresented cases” sometimes, which are simply cases that are reported and may have a NamUs entry, but have very little information found online.



Missing Mother of 4, Edna Donalda Howerton-Harris, Missing Since 1946 From CA or NY
Edna Donalda (Howerton) Harris was last seen in 1946 in either California or New York. Please click on the headline to read the full article on this highly underrepresented, unreported missing person cold case.
Lorraine Judith (Barrie) Chance Went Missing in 1948 in California. Here Whereabouts Remain Unknown.
Lorraine Judith Chance has been missing since 1948. Her last known whereabouts is Sacramento, CA. Have you seen her? Please click the article headline to read the full article on her disappearance.
Marc Roman, Unreported Missing Person Last Seen in Tampa, FL Since 2013
Marc Roman has been missing from Tampa, Florida since 2013. Have you seen him?
Ms. Starkes, Missing From Ocala, FL or Atlanta, GA Since 1992
Ms. Starke / Starkes is an unreported missing person who vanished in either Florida or Georgia in 1992.
Maribel Fresses Went Missing in 2018 in Philadelphia, PA. Have You Seen Her?
Maribel Ivette Fresses went missing in Philadelphia, PA in the summer of 2018. Her family is seeking answers to her whereabouts. Have you seen her? Please click the article headline to read the full article on her disappearance.
Transient Man Missing Since 1987 — The Story of James Lawrence Simmons
James Lawrence Simmons is a transient man who vanished on November 11, 1987 in California when he was 31 years old. Have you seen him? Please click the article headline to read the full article on his disappearance.
Estefanie Alegre Has Been Missing Since 2005 From Newark, NJ. Have You Seen Her?
Estefanie Alegre has been missing since July 20, 2005. Her last known whereabouts is Newark, NJ. Have you seen her? Please click the article headline to read the full article on her disappearance.
Sergio German Poblano, “Peroco”, Desaparecido Desde el 5 de Octubre de 2017 de Juárez, México
Sergio Germán Poblano, también conocido como "Peroco", desapareció en Juárez, Chihuahua, México cuando tenía treinta y tantos años el 5 de octubre de 2017. ¿Lo has visto? Haga clic en el título del artículo para leer el artículo completo sobre su desaparición.
Sergio German Poblano, Also Known as “Peroco”, Disappeared on October 5, 2017.
Sergio German Poblano, also known as "Peroco", went missing in Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico in his thirties on October 5, 2017. Have you seen him? Please click the article headline to read the full article on his disappearance.
James William Smith, AKA “Willy”, Missing From Fort Worth, TX Since December 25, 2020
James William Smith, AKA "Willy", has been missing since December 25, 2020 from Fort Worth, TX. Have you seen him? Please click the article headline to read the full article on his disappearance.
Father of 3, Lee Mitchell, From Loganville, GA is Still Missing
Lee Matthew Mitchell is a father of 3 who has been missing from Loganville, GA since 2020. Have you seen him? Please click the article headline to read the full article on his disappearance.
Juana “Joana” Cuevas Sanchez Went Missing in 1996, And Her Daughter is Seeking Answers.
Juana Joana Cuevas Sanchez is a United States citizen who disappeared while in Tijuana, Mexico in 1996. Have you seen her? Please click the article headline to read the full article on her disappearance.
Veteran Russell Allen Meachum Went Missing in 1984 in Arizona, And His Whereabouts Remain Unknown.
Russell Allen Meachum vanished in 1984 in Yuma, Arizona when he was 60 years old. Have you seen him? Please click the article headline to read the full article I wrote on his disappearance.
Missing Reno, NV Man, Willard Duane Martindale, Has Been Missing Since 1977 With No Media Attention.
Willard Duane Martindale has been missing since 1977 from Reno, Nevada. His case has received very little media attention. Have you seen him?
Missing Man From Manteca, CA, Franciszek Warszawski, Hasn’t Been Seen Since 2022.
Franciszek Warszawski is a 28-year-old male who was last seen on February 26, 2022 in Manteca, California. His loved ones are searching for answers to his whereabouts. Have you seen him?
Penelope J. Walker Has Been Missing From Louisiana Since 1990.  Have You Seen Her? 
Penelope J. Walker has been missing from Louisiana since the early 1990s. Her case has received very little social awareness. Her family is seeking clues to her whereabouts. Please click the article headline to read the full article on her disappearance.
José Tobias López Mejia Desapareció en 2021 en Falfurrias, TX. ¿Lo Has Visto?
José Tobias López Mejia desapareció en Falfurrias, TX el 4 de agosto de 2021. ¿Lo has visto? Haga clic en el título del artículo para leer el artículo completo sobre su desaparición.
José Tobias López Mejia Went Missing in 2021 in Falfurrias, TX. Have You Seen Him?
José Tobias López Mejia went missing in Falfurrias, TX on August 4, 2021 when he was 27 years old. Have you seen him? Please click the article headline to read the full article on his disappearance.
Ayude a identificar a una mujer no identificada encontrada el 19 de mayo de 1999 en Arizona, posiblemente originaria de México.
Una mujer presuntamente mexicana fue encontrada en Arizona, en Estados Unidos, en 1999, pero nadie sabe su nombre. ¿Tienes un ser querido perdido?
What Happened to Tejuana (Adcox) Burnett, a Young Mother Who Vanished in 1979?
Tejuana Jane (Hand/Adcox) Burnett's whereabouts have been unknown since June 19, 1979. Her case has never been shared in the media before this article. Please help share her story so more media stations pick it up. Please click the article headline to read the full article on her disappearance.
There are many more articles than what is shown above.  If you are searching for something in particular, please use the search field at the top of this page.  You can search for keywords that could lead you to a post. You can also visit www.undergroundmysteries.com/recentarticles to view more recent articles than what are listed above. 

9 thoughts on “About Underground Mysteries, Your Source For Unreported Missing People and Underrepresented Missing & Unidentified People Cases

Add yours

  1. Thank you so much for creating this site and listing the obscure cases that have either not made it big in the media or that have never been reported. Because of this site, my cousin’s information is now online and public. I see it has now been picked up by NAMUS as well.

  2. I can’t repay you for finding my uncle although deceased we wish he’d have had more time with us no one knew
    Please dont stop doing what your doing

  3. Your work is fabulously underappreciated but is dynamic to keep the communities of the world is a healthy state. Knowing what happened to a loved one, a neighbor, a friend is so important. Thanks for all you do.

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