Independent Detective Case File
Patrick Thomas Strutton
MissingAntioch, Contra Costa, California, USA
Overview
- Full Name: Patrick Thomas Strutton
- Date of Birth: July 23, 1947
- Age at Disappearance: 35 years old
- Date Last Seen: September 1, 1982
- Last Known Location: Antioch, California
- County: Contra Costa County
- State: California
- Classification: Missing person; historically described as endangered missing
- Current Publicly Documented Status: Missing; unresolved
- Investigating Agency: Antioch Police Department
- Police Case Number: 824146
Strutton’s disappearance is particularly difficult to reconstruct because the publicly available records contain few details about his activities before he vanished. His last-seen date and location are documented, but the circumstances of his disappearance, the direction he may have traveled, and what happened afterward have not been publicly established.
Detailed Case Breakdown
Case Summary
Patrick Thomas Strutton was 35 years old when he disappeared from Antioch, California, on September 1, 1982. More than four decades later, his disappearance remains unresolved in publicly available missing-person records. Despite the passage of time, remarkably little information has been released about the circumstances surrounding his last known whereabouts.
- Full Name: Patrick Thomas Strutton
- Date of Birth: July 23, 1947
- Age at Disappearance: 35 years old
- Date Last Seen: September 1, 1982
- Last Known Location: Antioch, California
- County: Contra Costa County
- State: California
- Classification: Missing person; historically described as endangered missing
- Current Publicly Documented Status: Missing; unresolved
- Investigating Agency: Antioch Police Department
- Police Case Number: 824146
Strutton’s disappearance is particularly difficult to reconstruct because the publicly available records contain few details about his activities before he vanished. His last-seen date and location are documented, but the circumstances of his disappearance, the direction he may have traveled, and what happened afterward have not been publicly established.
Background and Circumstances of the Disappearance
Patrick Thomas Strutton was born on July 23, 1947. At the time of his disappearance in September 1982, he was 35 years old and associated with Antioch, a city in eastern Contra Costa County in California’s San Francisco Bay Area.
Public missing-person descriptions identify Strutton as a white man with red or auburn hair and hazel eyes. He stood approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed about 190 pounds when he disappeared. One particularly distinctive identifying feature was a tattoo depicting a devil on his right shoulder.
These physical characteristics remain important because they may help distinguish Strutton from other missing individuals or assist investigators evaluating unidentified-person records dating from the same period.
Very little verified biographical information has been made publicly available about Strutton’s employment, family relationships, daily activities, or personal circumstances. Available case descriptions do not provide a reliable account of his home life or the events immediately preceding his disappearance.
September 1, 1982: The Last Known Date
September 1, 1982, is the date consistently recorded as Patrick Strutton’s last known sighting or contact. Antioch, California, is identified as his last known location.
However, publicly accessible descriptions do not establish the precise location where he was last seen, the time of day, who last encountered him, or whether he was traveling on foot or by vehicle.
There is also no sufficiently documented public account identifying the clothing he was wearing, the belongings he carried, or any confirmed destination he intended to reach.
Without these details, the final hours before his disappearance cannot be reliably reconstructed. Any specific narrative describing an argument, planned trip, suspicious encounter, or other triggering event would be speculative unless supported by additional evidence.
Investigation History and Available Evidence
The Antioch Police Department is identified by the California Department of Justice as the law enforcement agency associated with Patrick Strutton’s missing-person case. The state’s public record lists police case number 824146, providing an official reference for anyone seeking to submit relevant information.
Strutton’s identifying information has also appeared in missing-person databases and historical case listings. These records have helped preserve essential details about his disappearance, including his name, age, last-seen date, physical description, and distinctive tattoo.
Physical Identification and Dental Records
Historical missing-person information published through the Doe Network indicates that dental records were available for Strutton. Dental comparisons can be an important investigative resource when authorities attempt to identify unidentified human remains, particularly in cases dating from before modern DNA profiling became widespread.
His right-shoulder tattoo, red or auburn hair, hazel eyes, height, and approximate weight are additional identifying characteristics that could assist with a comparison. However, publicly available sources do not establish that a particular set of unidentified remains has been officially matched to Strutton or that a forensic identification has resolved his case.
What Has Been Publicly Documented?
Although an official missing-person case exists, detailed information about the original investigation is limited. The publicly reviewed material does not establish whether investigators conducted extensive ground searches, interviewed specific witnesses, recovered personal belongings, examined a vehicle, or obtained physical evidence directly connected to the disappearance.
Likewise, no verified public record reviewed for this article identifies an officially named suspect, a criminal charge, or a prosecution arising from Strutton’s disappearance.
The absence of publicly released investigative details does not necessarily mean those investigative steps never occurred. Police files may contain information that has not been disclosed publicly. It does mean that such activity cannot responsibly be described as established fact without supporting documentation.
Theories and Unresolved Questions
Patrick Strutton’s disappearance has been described in historical missing-person material as involving suspicious circumstances. The Doe Network has also historically categorized him as endangered missing. These descriptions warrant attention, but they do not establish that he was murdered or identify a particular explanation for what happened.
No publicly verified evidence reviewed for this article establishes whether Strutton disappeared voluntarily, experienced an accident, encountered foul play, or became missing under another set of circumstances. These possibilities should not be confused with findings made by investigators.
Questions That Remain Unanswered
Several fundamental questions remain unanswered in the available public record. Where exactly was Strutton last seen on September 1, 1982? Who was the last person known to have spoken with him? Was he expected somewhere that day? Did he have access to transportation, and was there any confirmed activity after his last recorded sighting?
Another important question is whether evidence retained from the original investigation could support modern forensic review. Advances in DNA analysis and identification technology have provided new opportunities in some longstanding missing-person investigations. However, there is no verified public confirmation that genetic genealogy or a new DNA examination has produced a development in Strutton’s case.
Unverified Online Comparisons
Public online discussions have included speculation about whether unidentified individuals could be connected to Strutton’s disappearance. Such comparisons are not evidence of identification. Similarities in age, physical appearance, or geography are insufficient to establish that two records concern the same person.
Any possible identification would require assessment by the appropriate authorities and, when applicable, forensic comparison. No specific online suggestion reviewed for this article was supported by a publicly confirmed identification connecting Strutton to unidentified remains.
Latest Publicly Available Investigative Updates
As of October 30, 2026, Patrick Thomas Strutton continues to appear in California’s publicly accessible missing-person records. The California Department of Justice identifies the Antioch Police Department as the reporting agency and lists case number 824146.
Recent publicly accessible case directories also continue to reproduce his identifying information and September 1, 1982, last-seen date. These listings demonstrate the continued availability of his case information, but they do not constitute evidence of a new investigative breakthrough.
No publicly confirmed recent developments were located establishing an arrest, new criminal charges, recovery and identification of Strutton’s remains, a successful DNA match, or a formal resolution of his disappearance.
There was also no verified public announcement located documenting a newly launched search, an official cold-case breakthrough, or a named person of interest. This does not rule out investigative work occurring outside public view.
For the most accurate information about the current investigative status, the Antioch Police Department and the California Department of Justice remain the appropriate official points of contact.
Conclusion and Public Appeal for Information
Patrick Thomas Strutton disappeared from Antioch, California, on September 1, 1982, at the age of 35. More than 44 years have passed without a publicly documented resolution explaining what happened to him.
His case illustrates the challenges of investigating a decades-old disappearance when few circumstances have been publicly documented. Even so, his official missing-person record preserves identifying details that could remain valuable to investigators and anyone who remembers events from that period.
Anyone who knew Patrick Strutton, encountered him around September 1982, or possesses information about his movements or disappearance is encouraged to contact the Antioch Police Department. Information that may appear insignificant after so many years could still help authorities establish a more complete account of his last known activities.
The Antioch Police Department can be reached at (925) 778-2441. Callers should reference Patrick Thomas Strutton and police case number 824146. Information may also be provided through the California Department of Justice missing-person hotline at 1-800-222-3463.
Until reliable evidence establishes his fate, Patrick Thomas Strutton should be remembered as a missing person whose disappearance remains unanswered. Continued awareness, accurate information, and responsible reporting may help preserve the possibility that someone with relevant knowledge will come forward.
Social Media, News and Case Links:
Sources and Additional Case Information
Official Missing-Person Records
California Department of Justice: Patrick Thomas Strutton
California Department of Justice: Missing Person Search
Missing-Person Databases and Research
CaseTrace: Patrick Thomas Strutton
Almost Solved: Patrick Thomas Strutton
SpotCrime: Missing Persons Listings
Historical Community Discussions
Websleuths: Patrick Strutton Discussion
Contact Information:
| Agency / Reference | Phone Number / Case Number |
|---|---|
| Antioch Police Department — Reporting Agency | (925) 778-2441 |
| Antioch Police Department — Official Case Number | 824146 |
| California Department of Justice — Missing Persons Hotline | 1-800-222-3463 (1-800-222-FIND) |
| NamUs — Missing Person Reference (secondary case-directory listing) | MP23477 |
| Doe Network — Historical Missing Person Reference | 4148DMCA |
Event Timeline Graph
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| July 23, 1947 | Patrick Thomas Strutton is born, according to his California Department of Justice missing-person record. |
| September 1, 1982 | Patrick Strutton, age 35, is last seen in Antioch, Contra Costa County, California. His subsequent whereabouts remain unknown. |
| October 3, 2019 | Historical Websleuths discussion of Strutton’s disappearance is revisited, with participants referencing missing-person records and publicly available case photographs. |
| April 3, 2025 | A Websleuths participant discusses a possible comparison with an unidentified person. No official identification or confirmed connection is documented. |
| October 19, 2026 | A published case-research guide reports checking the California Department of Justice record and confirms the September 1, 1982, last-seen date, Antioch Police Department reporting agency, and case number 824146. This is a record verification, not an investigative breakthrough. |
| October 30, 2026 | Review of publicly available information finds Strutton still listed as missing. No verified public announcement of an arrest, identification, or case resolution is located. |
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Map Location
Antioch, California
On September 1, 1982
Location disclaimer: This map may identify only the general city or surrounding area. It should not be interpreted as the exact location where the homicide occurred, where a person went missing, or where any other case event took place unless an exact location has been independently confirmed and entered.
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