The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) is tracking 602 missing person cases in Michigan that date all the way back to 1958.
According to NamUs, more than 600,000 people go missing in the United States every year. Many missing children and adults are quickly found, but tens of thousands remain missing for more than one year. Those are considered cold cases.
Recommended Videos
We’re taking a look at some of the oldest missing persons cold cases reported in Metro Detroit.
Macomb County
NamUs is tracking 26 cases in Macomb County and the oldest case dates back to 1977.
Here’s a look at the 3 oldest cases in Macomb County:
Clovis Robert Berbari
Clovis Robert Berbari was last seen by family in the summer of 1977. He had ties to Montreal, Canada, California, and Florida.
Anyone with information should contact the Roseville Police Department at 586-447-4502.
| Details | Clovis Robert Berbari |
|---|---|
| Missing Age | 49 |
| Current Age | 98 |
| Height | 5′8′' |
| Weight | 185 lbs |
| Hair | Gray or partially gray |
| Eyes | Brown |
John B. Block and Jean Gertrude Block
The couple vanished while flying their own plane from an airport in Macomb County to meet up with one of their sons in Northern Michigan on the Fourth of July.
John and Jean Block left the Macomb County airport on July 4, 1977, on their plane. The plane is a Cessna airplane that was white and green in color. It had the tag number N50935.
The couple was going to meet one of their sons in Northern Michigan to celebrate the holiday together.
They were aiming for the Lost Creek Sky Ranch Airport in Luzerne, Michigan. They didn’t make it and haven’t been seen since.
Anyone with information should contact the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office at 231-995-5002.
| Details | John Block | Jean Block |
|---|---|---|
| Missing Age | 57 | 58 |
| Current Age | 106 | 106 |
| Height | 5′6′' | 5′7′' - 5′9′' |
| Weight | 140 lbs | 160-170 lbs |
| Hair | Gray or partially gray | Red |
| Eyes | Brown | Green |
Kimberly “Kim” Alice King
Kimberly “Kim” Alice King was last seen on September 15, 1979. She was last seen at a friend’s house in the city of Warren.
She has a small discoloration or birthmark on the lower left abdomen the size of a nickel. She is described as having a “pug nose,” a gap between two front teeth, and her upper incisor is peg-shaped.
She was last seen wearing a blue sweater and Levi jeans. Foul play is suspected in her disappearance.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Warren Police Department at 586-574-4700.
| Details | Kimberly Alice King |
|---|---|
| Missing Age | 12 |
| Current Age | 59 |
| Height | 5′5′' |
| Weight | 105 lbs |
| Hair | Brown |
| Eyes | Blue |
--> Read more: Oakland County Child Killer murders remain unsolved 50 years later: Everything we know
Oakland County
NamUs is tracking 48 cases in Oakland County and the oldest case dates back to 1963.
Here’s a look at the 3 oldest cases in Oakland County:
Juliette Delania Walker
Juliette Delania Walker was last seen on June 1, 1963, in Pontiac.
Police said she was known to leave for a day or two, but this time, she never returned home.
Anyone with information should contact the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office at 248-858-4951.
| Details | Juliette Delania Walker |
|---|---|
| Missing Age | 21 |
| Current Age | 83 |
| Height | 5′5′'-5′7′' |
| Weight | 140-160 lbs |
| Eyes | Black |
| Hair | Brown |
Judith Ann Ruggirello
Judith Ann Ruggirello was last seen on Aug. 18, 1968, in Southfield.
The night before she went missing, she told her husband that she was divorcing him and she had put a deposit on an apartment. They argued.
Her husband threatened her and the next day he arranged for their children to go to his brother’s home at 11 a.m. She was never seen again.
Her car was found at 7 Mile Road and Wyoming Avenue in Detroit. Her purse was inside the car.
Anyone with information should contact the Southfield Police Department at 248-796-5500.
| Details | Judith Ann Ruggirello |
|---|---|
| Missing Age | 29 |
| Current Age | 86 |
| Height | 5′1′' |
| Weight | 115 lbs |
| Hair | Black |
| Eyes | Hazel |
James “Jimmy” Riddle Hoffa
The disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa is one of the most famous unsolved cases in Michigan history.
Jimmy Hoffa disappeared from an Oakland County restaurant on July 30, 1975. Investigators have searched numerous locations and have sorted through countless tips for the last 48 years.
His story is a complicated one. He was a Union man and he helped create stability and strength in America’s workforce. He made enemies in the U.S. government and made friends with some of the notorious gangsters of the time.
---> Read more: Jimmy Hoffa disappeared 50 years ago. His case is still unsolved
According to reports, Hoffa left his home in Lake Orion at 1 p.m. and stopped to visit a friend in Pontiac.
He arrived at the Machus Red Fox restaurant in Oakland County’s Bloomfield Township at 2 p.m. to meet reputed Detroit mob enforcer Anthony “Tony Jack” Giacalone and alleged New Jersey mob figure Anthony “Tony Pro” Provenzano.
At 2:15 p.m., Hoffa called his wife and told her that nobody showed up for his meeting. That was the last time anyone saw or heard from Hoffa.
It has been speculated that Hoffa was killed by enemies because he was planning a Teamsters comeback. He was declared legally dead in 1982.
Anyone with information should contact the Bloomfield Township Police Department at 248-433-7755.
| Details | James Riddle Hoffa |
|---|---|
| Missing Age | 62 |
| Current Age | 113 |
| Height | 5′5′' |
| Weight | 180 lbs |
| Hair | Gray or partially gray |
| Eyes | Blue |
Livingston County
NamUs is tracking 2 cases in Livingston County and the oldest case dates back to 1990.
Here’s a look at Livingston County’s 2 cases:
Paige Marie Renkoski
Paige Marie Renkoski, 30, was a substitute school teacher who was living in Okemos. She was last seen on May 24, 1990, standing on the side of I-96.
Police have searched several locations using crews, cadaver dogs, ground-penetrating radar and other methods. Renkoski or her remains have never been located.
Police have received and investigated more than 1,000 tips since she disappeared.
The day she was last seen, Renkoski drove her mother to Detroit Metro Airport that morning, then visited with a friend who lived in Canton Township.
She was seen at a party store in Canton Township later that afternoon, where she purchased a beer. Witnesses told police they saw Renkoski on the side of the freeway speaking with a man next to a maroon minivan.
Her vehicle was found stopped and running on the westbound shoulder of I-96, about a half a mile from the Fowlerville exit. The beer she purchased, her shoes and her purse were found inside the vehicle. Renkoski has never been located.
If you have any information, you should contact the Livingston County Sheriff’s Department at 517-546-2440 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-Speak Up.
--> Read more: Never giving up: One woman’s mission to solve her sister’s 35-year mystery in Washtenaw County
| Details | Paige Marie Renkoski |
|---|---|
| Missing Age | 30 |
| Current Age | 66 |
| Height | 5′6′' |
| Weight | 125 lbs |
| Day of Last Contact | May 24, 1990 |
| Location | Fowlerville |
| Hair | Blonde/Strawberry |
| Eyes | Blue |
Lubov Marchenko
Lubov Nikolayevna Marchenko was last seen on April 11, 2008, it Brighton, Michigan.
She went to work at Hotel Courtyard Marriott in Brighton. She left work at 4 p.m. and was never seen again.
She has a scar below her stomach. She was last seen wearing a gold necklace and gold cross and earrings.
Anyone with information should contact the Southfield Police Department at 248-5500.
| Details | Lubov Marchenko |
|---|---|
| Missing Age | 51 |
| Current Age | 69 |
| Height | 5′6′' |
| Weight | 130 lbs |
| Hair | Gray or partially gray |
| Eyes | Hazel |
Washtenaw County
NamUs is tracking 20 cases in Washtenaw County and the oldest case dates back to 1956.
Here’s a look at the 3 oldest cases in Washtenaw County:
Ida Dean Anderson
Ida Dean Anderson was last seen on Sept. 18, 1958, in Ann Arbor.
According to the FBI, Anderson, 21, was due in court the day after her disappearance for her parental rights case and was to be awarded custody of her children. Due to conflicting court documents, it is unclear if she showed up, the FBI said.
She had left her husband in March 1958 and was hospitalized after for “various illnesses.” Her estranged husband placed their children in a boarding home and moved to Chicago while she was in the hospital. The state of Michigan took custody of the children and Ida had been fighting to get them back since she was released.
Ida and her children were supposed to fly to Florida to visit family after the Sept. 19, 1958, court date but she did not show up. Before she vanished, Ida was in constant contact with her family via mail.
Anyone with information regarding Ida’s disappearance is asked to contact the Ann Arbor Police Department at 734-794-6920
| Details | Ida Dean Anderson |
|---|---|
| Missing Age | 21 |
| Current Age | 88 |
| Height | 5′2′' |
| Weight | 110 |
| Hair | Brown |
| Eyes | Blue |
Cynthia Coon
Cynthia Coon, 13, left home to go to school on Jan. 19, 1970. She never made it to school and did not return home that night.
Her family heard from her on two separate occasions, months after her disappearance. She contacted them once on April 1, 1970, and again on April 2, 1970. She did not know where she was when she called.
On May 5, 1970, her family received an “extortion-type” call. They never heard from her again.
In 2018, authorities were investigating the possibility that convicted killer Arthur Ream murdered Coon and other girls.
Ream is serving life in prison for the murder of 13-year-old Cindy Zarzycki, who was killed in 1986. Police said Ream could be responsible for four to six murders.
Anyone with information should contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office at 734-971-8400.
| Details | Cynthia Coon |
|---|---|
| Height | 5′ 4″ |
| Weight | 110 lbs |
| Hair | Brown |
| Eyes | Brown |
John Davis Harris
A picture is not available for John Davis Harris.
He was last seen on Sept. 12, 1973, when he escaped from a mental health facility. He is considered dangerous.
Harris also went by the names “Chester Russell” and “Jack Griffin”. He would be 83 years old now. He is missing three fingers on his right hand -- a thumb, index, and middle finger.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Michigan State Police Brighton Post at 810-227-1051.
| Details | John Davis Harris |
|---|---|
| Height | 6′3′' |
| Weight | 184 lbs |
| Hair | Black |
| Eyes | Brown |
Monroe County
NamUs is tracking 9 cases in Monroe County and the oldest case dates back to 1974.
Here’s a look at the 3 oldest cases in Monroe County:
Vaughn Credland
A picture is not available for Vaughn Credland.
Credland was last seen on Feb. 13, 1974, at a residence he was staying at in Bedford Township. Foul play is suspected
He may have been traveling in a 1965 Ford 300 Series vehicle that was green in color and had a Michigan license plate with the number BKT819. The tags expired in 1973.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Michigan State Police at 734-242-3500.
| Details | Vaughn Credland |
|---|---|
| Missing Age | 27 |
| Current Age | 79 |
| Height | 5′10′' |
| Weight | 160 |
| Hair | Brown |
| Eyes | Brown |
John Kelly Gentry
John Kelly Gentry is wanted for two homicides -- one in Monroe, Michigan, and the other in Toledo, Ohio. There are warrants out for his arrest.
His last known contact was with family and friends through postcards that were postmarked San Diego, California, and Los Angeles, California. He has been on Michigan’s Top Ten Most Wanted list since the 1983 murders -- he is considered armed and dangerous.
Gentry is accused of murdering Barbara Gerber, a 25-year-old Summerfield Township woman, at her home in April 1983. He is also accused of murdering William Veith, who was discovered in the basement of a rare coin business on April 18, 1983.
Anyone with information should contact the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office at 734-240-7700.
--> Read more: Man wanted for 1983 Michigan murder may be living in California, dressing as woman
| Details | John Kelly Gentry |
|---|---|
| Age Missing | 30 |
| Age Now | 72 |
| Height | 5′7′' - 5′8′' |
| Weight | 160 lbs |
| Hair | Brown |
| Eyes | Brown |
Gail Northington
Gail Northington was last seen on Jan. 9, 1987, in Ottawa Lake, Michigan.
Gail and her son had been staying with Gail’s parents in Erie Township due to “marital problems.” On January 19, 1987, Gail returned to her home to get some of her belongings.
She has not been seen since.
Her vehicle was found abandoned in a Toledo, Ohio, parking lot.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office at 734-240-7700.
| Details | Gail Northington |
|---|---|
| Age Missing | 29 |
| Age Now | 68 |
| Height | 5′4′' |
| Weight | 110-130 lbs |
| Hair | Brown |
| Eyes | Brown |
Wayne County
NamUs is tracking 197 cases in Wayne County and the oldest case dates back to 1964.
Here’s a look at the 3 oldest cases in Wayne County:
Patricia Louise Zentner and Mildred Patricia Zentner
Patricia Louise Zentner was last seen on Aug. 28, 1964, in Garden City.
She disappeared along with her mother, Mildred Patricia Zentner. Police believe foul play was involved in their disappearance.
| Details | Patricia Louise Zentner | Mildred Patricia Zentner |
|---|---|---|
| Missing Age | 2 | 28 |
| Current Age | 63 | 89 |
| Height | 3′ | 5′7′' |
| Weight | 31 lbs | 126 lbs |
| Eyes | Blue | Blue |
| Hair | Blond/strawberry | Brown |
Sylvia Torgow
Sylvia Torgow escaped from the Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility on Sept. 17, 1970.
She was serving up to four years for theft of credit cards. There were 163 days between her sentencing and her escape.
Torgow was originally from Florida.
---> Read more: Florida woman still missing 52 years after she escaped a Michigan prison
| Details | Sylvia Torgow |
|---|---|
| Age Missing | 18 |
| Age Now | 73 |
| Height | 5′3′' |
| Weight | 140 lbs |
| Hair | Blond/Strawberry |
| Eyes | Hazel |
Joanne Gladys Thornton
Joanne Gladys Thornton mysteriously disappeared from Detroit in 1971. Her family believes it to be suspicious.
Her case was originally reported to the Detroit Police Department. Her car was found abandoned.
Joanne’s married name was Joanne Garr. She also went by Joan. She was 31 years old at the time of her disappearance and would be 85 now.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Michigan State Police at 248-584-5740.
| Details | Joanne Gladys Thornton |
|---|---|
| Age Missing | 31 |
| Age Now | 85 |
| Height | 5′1′' - 5′4′' |
| Weight | 110-130 lbs |
| Hair | Red/Auburn |
| Eyes | Blue |