25 Infamous Missing Person Cases of Each Year (2000 - 2024)

Dive into the most mysterious and heart-wrenching missing person cases that shocked the world from 2000 to 2024. Each year brings a new story of disappearance, intrigue, and unanswered questions that continue to baffle investigators and captivate the public imagination. From Elizabeth Smart's miraculous rescue to the tragic disappearance of Gabby Petito, these cases represent some of the most compelling mysteries of the 21st century. Which of these do you find the most fascinating? Share in the comments.
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#MissingPersons, #TrueCrime, #Mysteries, #Disappearances, #UnsolvedCases, #Investigation, #ColdCases, #Crime, #Documentary, #MysteriousCases, #TrueStories

[@WatchMojo]

Which of these do you find the most fascinating? Share in the comments. For more content like this, click here: kzbin.info/aero/PLmZTDWJGfRq0GB_tsx9dPghXNow-pvI78&si=jFLnIB2nqGDOij_x

[@shreyanmallik5292]

what about trevor deely?

[@MamaPinks]

You can do a whole other video adding missing 2021 Summer Wells and 2020 the brothers from California City, Orrin and Orson West!

[@caphowdy666]

Madeleine McCann is an example of utter negligence from the parents. Whether they are responsible for her going missing directly or not, they are certainly responsible seeing as they left the kids alone while they went out drinking. Nothing has ever sat right with that case, and one way or another those so called parents should have been held accountable.

[@beckyUK77]

They say they kept checking on her but I know what you mean. Such a difficult case

[@rickyhood8213]

Zebb, a student in my high school, is still one of the strangest cases I know. The circumstances were bizarre enough, but the fact that 25 years later there is not an answer to be had is mind-blowing! He still pops into my head frequently, especially around the time of year the disappearance occurred.

[@Nickster2176]

I still remember the horrific story of the three girls kidnapped in Cleveland. I remember reading that Ariel actually went to their candlelight vigils and "helped" in search parties. Sickening.

[@Livingstone7728]

Deeeaaaaad giveaway

[@JessiPeele]

I was a weird kid who looked at the missing and exploited children website a lot. I liked learning about who these kids were and wondering what happened to them. I live in Ohio so I always saw Gina’s profile. I thought about her a lot growing up and seeing her be alive and free so many years later was crazy. There’s a few cases I still think about. These girls that were kidnapped by their father and presumably taken to a middle eastern country. They’d be adults now. Another one was a newborn and her mother missing since 1999. They are still missing and I hope they are one day found.

[@katieburnett]

Thank you for doing missing person cases. It's so important

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

Gabby Petito’s case captivated me for a considerable stretch of 2021.

[@CmdrBrannick]

Same year Madeleine went missing (2007), a classmate and friend of mine also disappeared. I just hope he's ok. He pops in my head from time to time. I actually checked this video out to see if he'd be on it, but I didn't know it was the same year as Madeleine.

[@bazoena]

What is his name??

[@CmdrBrannick]

@bazoena Andrew Gosden, 14 September 2007 he disappeared.

[@WhatTheFudge212]

@cmdrBrannick His case is pretty popular. I hope someday he’s showing up again😓

[@MalonsMilk]

Not that long ago Andrew’s pictures were on bus stops it’s so sad that he has never been found he was way too young to disappear without a trace.

[@CmdrBrannick]

@ Tell me about it. Me, him and a mate of ours were supposed to work together and he just never showed up. Didn't find out til later.

[@loveislove-le5nj]

What's disturbing with the Cleveland kidnappings is that Gina was friends with Ariel's daughter. And he's given rides alone before, so getting into the car was something she didn't give a second thought to. The daughter said she avoided going into the house as much as possible. It was dirty, smelled, and would come up with excuses on why no one could go into the basement and bedrooms.

[@rachelxx1991]

His brother said that Ariel asked him once what he thought happened to Amanda Berry, and his brother said she was probably dead, and Ariel looked and him and said, "really? You think so?"

[@missk9521]

I'd say that Kyron Horman was much bigger in 2010, never heard of this woman's case.

[@rocknroll20024]

The stepmom totally did someone to him

[@leslierenee89]

I had my headphones in and literally dropped my drink when they said Derek's name. I worked with him and he was my neighbor and we hung out together all the time. I had no idea his case was famous outside of Blount County.

[@aicsabres61]

I was a teenager when the Elizabeth Smart and Natalie Holloway cases happened. I remember cable news, especially Nancy Grace going nuts about their disappearance

[@kassieyoung4289]

The Drexel case always stuck with me… I was two years younger, lived a few hours away at the time, and remember seeing it all over the news and being scared for her and in awe that someone around my age traveled so far without telling anyone in her immediate family or friend group. Years later I moved to Myrtle Beach and came across her memorial tree and started following her story again…. She seemed like a beautiful person. I am so happy her family finally found her, and got their answers and justice. But it’s so sad.. all these stories are.

[@PrincessofPower84]

That case is so frustrating, and I wish that she had just listened to her mother. So sad for them all. May she RIP

[@ChristopherBingham-xx8xl]

She was not a good person. She defied her mother and snuck out and went many hours down south without her mother's permission or knowledge. That said, she didn't deserve this

[@TayMatty13]

Yes I lived in Charleston and remember seeing her posters all over the place.

[@nikkiclark8123]

How is Maura Murray NOT the missing person highlighted in 2004?!?!

[@CandiceVidito32]

These are all sad cases. Some survive while others don't get the chance to see tomorrow.😢

[@jadestar22347]

I remember a missing person’s case from my town. Her name is Michele Harris, a native of Spencer, New York (I live in Ithaca) She disappeared the night of September 10th, 2001. But because of the attacks, her disappearance didn’t start investigation until later. Anyways, she was married to Cal Harris, who owned and operated some car dealerships in the central New York area. My dad worked at one of these dealerships in Ithaca. And he remembered one time that Michele and one of her friends were at the dealership and one of them said something along the lines of “if anything happens, Cal did it”. Cal went to trail four times and was acquitted three times on the grounds of lack of evidence. It was crazy that not only was this was in my town, but that my dad worked for someone so close to disappearance 😮

[@kristinachaney7391]

Elizabeth Smart, Lacey Peterson, the three girls who were kept in that house for over a decade, Natalie Holloway, Gabby Petitio, Kaylee Anthony. I can't think of any others Edit: No Lacey Peterson or Kaylee Anthony?! Those were two of the biggest stories of the last 20 years

[@gregorylejeune9401]

Jayme strikes the closest to home for me, I still remember the chills and relief when they announced they found her. It happened around 30 miles from where I live.

[@jeffreykress3505]

The case of Maura Murray in 2004 was more publicized than the one mentioned in this video.

[@sarahconn3285]

You forgot Maura Murray she disappeared in 2003 or 2004 can’t remember which year ! She drove into New Hampshire and crashed her car and was never seen again!!!

[@ujmm]

1,5 million people are disappearing every year in the Western world, so it is hard to pick one case. 100.000 of these are still missing after 6 months.

[@downeygirl2]

@@ujmm Maura Murray is considered one of the most infamous missing persons case of this century

[@briannaevans7996]

​@downeygirl2 Mayve it is famous in America, I personally have never heard of her disappearance (I live in NZ), but I have heard of both cases mentioned in 2003 and 2004 from this video

[@markingmilestones9881]

She disappeared 2/9/04

[@downeygirl2]

@ We are fascinated by missing pretty blond girls here in the US. No judging, just observing. It is what it is.

[@tinag7381]

Irene Garza. Last seen April 1960 in McAllen, Texas. Found 5 days later in a canal. She was unalived by a priest but he wasn't sentenced until 2017! He died from his old age in prison in 2020. 😳 I remember hearing about most of these cases in your video but the Gabby Petito story just stuck with me.

[@lavenderpants8695]

I went to OSU when Brian Shaffer disappeared. I was at that Ugly Tuna. I have no idea how you disappear from that bar. There is only one way in and one way out and it's small and right at the top of that escalator

[@kerrysater157]

That case is so strange. He vanished into thin air. It makes no sense

[@TheMisterEMS]

His case still troubles me to no end. How is that even possible?! How did all cameras cover all exits but he wasn't caught by any of them? Police ruled out foul play but I don't believe that one bit.

[@teddy2577]

Hey do you happen to remember if there was construction going on out back of the bar? I will explain why after you reply.

[@lavenderpants8695]

@teddy2577 i really don't remember. There was a lot of new construction in that gateway area at the time because it was expanding, but that building was basically done. That escalator is right when you walk in at the bottom, hugging the right wall. When you reach the top, the entry to the bar is immediately on your right and the entry way is very small and there was always somebody at the door. If you went to the left at the top of the escalator it was an entire movie theater, or at least it was at the time. Can't remember if it was an AMC or Drexel. Straight ahead was just a wall, so you can only go right or left at the top where that camera shot is. It's now called the Gateway Film Center Area and if you look it up you can see what was the bar's balcony off to the right side of the front on the 2nd floor. The thing is, it was a tiny bar with a tiny backroom kitchen area that was always full of staff. Somebody would have noticed somebody walking to the back that shouldn't have been there. But regarding the construction, I've asked myself the same question, though wondering if he wandered somewhere he shouldn't have and fell into something under construction. There have been several cases of people vanishing mysteriously, and that ended up being the case of what happened. A guy disappeared at a mall, another who was murdered vanished in a hospital. If you've seen Mr Ballen videos of "places you can't go" you will know exactly what I'm talking about. But with its small size and staffing, I just don't know how that would have been possible.

[@mandapaige1]

Similar instances that occurred. I suggest they search the walls or ceilings. A nook/cranny where you could hide a body or someone drunk could have climbed in and would not be able to get out.

[@Potheadjenkins]

After 2015 youd think all cctv’s would be in HD

[@jenhasken]

The Maine one reminds me of a case we had a couple years ago. Two women with intellectual disabilities decided to drive to Portland and overshot it, going into New Hampshire before realizing their mistake and turning around. Then they drove up into northern Maine where, after three days, they were located. A Maine game warden on a whim decided to look down an old logging road and they were found. They had used up their gas trying to stay warm - it was the middle of winter. It was a wonderful happy ending!

[@isaacjohnson3384]

I saw the Netflix documentary what happened to Madeleine McCann and I must say it was very intriguing and the other one in 2010 that comes to mind is Kyron Horman is truly a mystery

[@charlesschofield4018]

Don't watch the Netflix documentary about Madeleine McCann, read Madeleine McCann: Ten Years On by Danny Collins. Because it explains beyond doubt there's no evidence that an intruder broke into the McCann's holiday apartment and it's likely Madeleine wandered outside via the unlocked patio door looking for her parents before being abducted. I'm sure your parents would never do this to you but what would you do if they leave you unattended in an holiday apartment or a hotel room when you're just a toddler?

[@ToniWellons]

They forgot about Carlee Russell 😂

[@whooooaa1]

Wasn't the year I was born, but a huge story when I was little and still the worst was Adam Walsh. That changed how my parents talked to me about stranger danger, 100%. Bless John Walsh.♥

[@wendyodell356]

Gabby Petito's case tore my heart in two 💔 I was broken by this and haven't looked at life the same way since 😢

[@emersonmanning6523]

That's the power of biased media. She should have been arrested.

[@LaraCroftEyes1]

Oh, it's you again, Gabby was a victim of abuse by Brian

[@emersonmanning6523]

@LaraCroftEyes1 According to who because I couldn't care less about your personal opinion. Can you direct me to an official legal document that identifies Gabby as the victim in Moab? I'm certainly open to correction and an apology with evidence. Are you?

[@victorwinters36]

I remembered the Elizabeth Smart case. It was the year I started high school.

[@shisa1989]

Dennis Lloyd Martin June 14, 1969. Six years old. Went missing in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. As of 2022, it is still the largest search in the history of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Never found.

[@beckyUK77]

We need a story on him ❤. Poor little boy

[@virginialewis8046]

Adam Walsh was the biggest missing person case when I was born. Some of these I haven’t heard of. I think someone you love missing without being found wld probably be my biggest fear

[@edgarallanpoestheblackcat6613]

Adam Walsh was murdered

[@KingdomofEvania100]

7:19 OK that’s immediately fishy because you don’t leave your small children in an apartment alone to go to dinner

[@butterflywatching34]

Agree i think those parents know all about what happend to there doughter

[@KingdomofEvania100]

@ I think they hired someone to take her

[@kerrysater157]

All the parents left their kids and went to dinner at a restaurant within walking distance. The kids were bunkung together. Every 15 mins or something, one adult would go check on the kids. Madeline disappeared out of the room, where others kids were staying, and nobody noticed a thing. The entire situation is weird. Why leave your kids in the apartment, even if you are only a few minutes away? What if the place had caught fire or something, anything can happen and it's just irresponsible.

[@KingdomofEvania100]

@ Why didn’t they just take their kids to dinner with them or maybe don’t take your kids on vacation with you

[@Rhiannawasherex]

@@KingdomofEvania100what a load of bs

[@Kingboom52]

One POC went missing in the past 23yrs

[@ashtonTk-i7k]

Facts

[@verycontroversial4u]

They don’t care if you are not yt

[@Emm.s31]

was scrolling to see if anyone else noticed

[@ThePrincessrikki]

And also seen as not a suspicious death???? Like come on bro everything about it was suspicious.

[@Kingboom52]

@ nah no time to investigate that. “We said nothing suspicious case closed.”

[@xayboogie7]

Asha Degree this still haunts me an bothers me 😢😢

[@nicolesnyder859]

Also the sad story of Timmothy Pitzen 2015. His mother takes him out of school and takes him on vacation and she commits suicide and writes a not to the dad u will never find Timmothy

[@BlakeTaylor59]

Kind of surprised that Bryce Laspisa wasn't on this list. 🧐

[@touhoutrash2436]

That is a lot of missing people and that is very Tragic.

[@nicolesnyder859]

2004 was the same year Maura Murray disappeared. That case is truly fascinating

[@jmbloom1977]

In 2016, the biggest missing persons case where I live was Jesse Leopold. He was last seen leaving his workplace on October 13, and his truck was found in the parking lot of the Ledges State Park three days later. His body has never been found. (It's probably one of the bigger cases in Iowa since Jodi Huisentruit in 1995.)

[@cassandrakarpinski9416]

2024 should have been dr Michael Moseley, who disappeared on the greek island of symi, and whose body was found a few days later less than 150m from an area that had been searched by rescue teams, and less than 100m from a restaurant. The fact that he was so close to help but unable to reach it was tragic

[@michellekennedy4426]

I was thinking the same thing. I'll miss him,loved his tv shows.

[@giancosal-wr1ic]

The funniest year has got to be 2013. The reporters were outside of the missing persons house. Little did they know that the missing person just walked passed by and told them to cut the search and said to them “Why the heck am I missing, I'm right here?”.

[@Light_Of_The_Phoenix]

I read Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus’ book. Its hard to imagine the torture that they went through. Surprised that I didn’t see Laci Peterson. That story was massive and still is. I also remember Bethany Decker, and the McStay Family,

[@bridgote]

TheBryca Laspisa case is one of the most unsettling cases I've ever heard. 💔

[@deedeeknows]

The biggest missing person case my birth year was Etan Patz, a 6-year-old boy who disappeared while walking to his school bus stop in the SoHo neighborhood of Manhattan, New York. A Bodega worker was arrested.

[@johnv.2914]

I was born before 2000. ;-)

[@marjoriedillard9438]

I love missing person videos ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@carsonyoung9965]

Swanson's case seems solved. He was last heard from near a river. It was dark. It's likely he slipped into the river and drowned.

[@mc-rn8ro]

Except his body was never recovered, so we can’t say with certainty that that’s what happened Ergo, the case is unsolved. By your logic, Madeline McCann’s case was solved because it’s pretty obvious her parents killed her.

[@carsonyoung9965]

@@mc-rn8ro Right because if fell into a river at night, recovering the body is almost impossible. Just pointing out the most logical explanation given the time and location

[@christophergunnels9604]

2010 Alexandria lowitzer, 16 year old girl disappeared from work which was directly accross from our high school, spring high school. Never seen again, lived one neighborhood over from me

[@loposo4510]

Summer Wells

[@jillb3072]

People have bastardized this story on YT by some very problematic creators that tried to insert themselves into

[@ChristopherBingham-xx8xl]

I was expecting that case to be mentioned. It's a very baffling one. What could have happened?

[@jillb3072]

It’s one story a year people!

[@CedarScott]

The most high profile in my birth year was the disappearance of Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman.

[@viancyc9381]

I'm sorry what? They left their kids in the apartment and left to go meet friends at a restaurant

[@laceyjaye1262]

Ayla Reynolds, a 20 month old little girl, also "went missing" from her father's home in 2011 in Maine. I think about her often and wish her father and others in that house would really be held responsible for what happened.

[@BuckFidenMD4547]

I think about that poor baby often as well. Such a beautiful child! I firmly believe the father did it and his fam covers for him.

[@LaurenKaminski]

What no Caylee Anthony?😢💔❤️‍🩹 No Lacey Peterson? No Stacey Patterson and no Riley Strain?

[@ChristopherBingham-xx8xl]

I don't think Caylee Anthony was missing. Her body was found and it was obvious who killed her. For some reason, the obvious killer was acquitted.

[@crossog9]

brians case still haunts me till this day

[@rickyhood8213]

There had to be something better for 2013 than an elderly man who wandered off

[@beckyUK77]

I wish all these missing peoples families could have answers (if they haven't already) . I cant imagine the pain of not knowing......pure torture 😢❤

[@shoey75]

Shanan Watts and her babies also not on the list?

[@ChristopherBingham-xx8xl]

They're not missing. They were found. The culprit was the husband/father, Chris Watts. They found lots of evidence against him, and they weren't fooled by his lying. He ultimately confessed to killing them, explained what happened, and he showed police where their bodies were. One of the kids' last words were "Daddy, no." He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Rumor has it he's the least popular person in the prison

[@queenentp5w68]

I still think Sneha's husband did something to her. She had many personal, marriage and career issues that were embarrassing.

[@rocknroll20024]

Maybe but why would he do it and where would he hid the body

[@PSpice-k6d]

This is an important video!!! More of this awareness and less exploitation pls!

[@shaexoxii_]

it is but not one person of a darker complexion

[@ashleyashley9300]

Kaylee Anthony

[@ChristopherBingham-xx8xl]

If my understanding was correct, her body was found, and it was obvious that her mother killed her. Obvious to everyone except the court.

[@brendenmalzard3269]

Why did they leave their kids by themselves and go to the restaurant it's their fault it's on their conscience

[@patrickbeck3285]

You missed Jennifer Dulos in 2019.

[@beccabryant4199]

Jaycee Lee dugard she was held captive for 18 years

[@ashtonTk-i7k]

She went missing in 1991 and found in the 2000s. This list is about people who went missing between 2000-2024.

[@amybaker3551]

D.B.Cooper was the biggest of my birth year.

[@BrianaCunningham]

Tuccaro was indigenous and the RCMP simply didnt care. Racism is still strong in Canadian law enforcement. Shameful.

[@JessicaHusted-n1d]

I remember these

[@mileswint]

The 21st century started in 2001.

[@RClover2461]

How is 2004 not Maura Murray?

[@ayotiffany1016]

Gabby's case is a case of domestic abuse please leave any toxic relationships you have

[@djarthurlooby]

Yeah the Gloss story was right here not far from where i live in town.

[@Idontwant1]

Brian Laundre is the worst of the worst. And his parents should have charged with accessory to the murders. Both Gabby and Brian’s. They could have helped but refused to do anything.

[@mylsyl]

2009: Claudia Lawrence 2019: emilliano salla

[@robyndeannejanes]

I’m sorry you missed a big one for 2015….a two year old boy Deorr Kuntz Jr. Went camping with his parents, great grandfather and a family friend only to disappear never to be seen again…..

[@Ruthissa_01]

D.B. Cooper

[@rocknroll20024]

I like to believe his still out there

[@jeffmeyer6820]

The year I was born was 88. So none of these covered that

[@mckennageoghegan8711]

How did you not mention Kyron Horman?!?

[@rebalynn3117]

You're gonna have to go back a lot farther than 2000 for the most prominent missing person case the year I was born. Who disappeared in 1983?

[@ChristopherBingham-xx8xl]

I was born before 2000, so none of these would be the worst from the year I was born. The worst case from the year I was born was Junko Furuta. That's probably the worst case of all time. What case could be worse?

[@FernandoGonzales-z2v]

Damn, I was so anticipating that in 2020 yall were going to say US Army SPC Vanessa Guillen....but i guess it wasnt watchmojo worthy

[@madisonbrowder43]

2011-Holly Bobo. She was a girl who disappeared from my home town in TN and her remains were found three years later in the woods. Her boyfriend was convicted for her murder.

[@gleegirl23431]

No he wasn’t. He wasn’t involved.

[@PeoplesFamilyPremium]

This is the weirdest premise for a video

[@nikkiej.5875]

There were two cases that weren't mentioned. In 2020, Gannon Stauch went missing and it turned out he was murdered by his stepmother. Also the missing children of Lori Vallow, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow went missing and they were both murdered for being supposed "zombies."

[@thomaslee7105]

Kinda rude that Jennifer Kesse isn't on this list, as well as Jason Jolkowski

[@dae9713]

How about do a video on the missing black people that have gone missing with little to none media coverage. Oh wait…..that won’t gain any viewers on your channel

[@OTHisLOVEforEVER]

Many of the cases presented were nowhere near the most infamous for the year. I am not saying they don’t deserve coverage but simply that they don’t match the title of the video.

[@shoey75]

why was Tim Bosma not on this list for 2013?

[@shadowrose1859]

I dont know anyone personally that went missing but I was born in 1994 and Arnel Narvaiz is the first name that comes up on Google. The Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow case was the biggest case in the town I grew up in though mostly because it's a predominantly Mormon town where missing people/murders don't exactly happen all that often. Like it's been YEARS since the last one.

[@kimberlyisome1154]

He is in the ugly tuna. In a wall or aome other inaccessible area like a crawl space

[@downeygirl2]

Glaring omission - Maura Murray

[@BuccaneerBruce]

Hale Boggs.

[@nyghtmareinmi]

Nothing on Jessica Heeringa....for shame WatchMojo

[@icequeen2828]

What about the 2010 disappearance of Kyron Horman

[@Livingstone7728]

The titles of these videos don't make sense... You're implying that there's 25 for each year...

[@christianfranz2686]

12:31 I remember seeing an episode of North woods law on this case, the man in the green coat talking to Robert is a game warden.

[@krissygadwaw3906]

What about Summer Wells? She went missing in 2021.

[@thebluemoose8190]

How did Elisa Lam not make the list??

[@beautistry7]

Relisha Rudd!

[@ЕвгенияТарасенко-л1ц]

Navalny haha you're joking, right?))))

[@lincolnjones5550]

Hi

[@hollysdad49]

I would agree that Elizabeth Smart's was huge news I would argue that Laci Peterson's disappearance was bigger. Doubly so since she also was murdered along with her unborn son.