Overview

Full Name: Roy Edward Mitts Jr.

Date of Birth: October 17, 1947

Age at Disappearance: 37 years old

Last Seen: March 11, 1985

Last Known Location: Concord, Contra Costa County, California

Case Classification: Missing Person

Investigating Agency: Concord Police Department

Police Case Number: 87-8618

Current Status: Unresolved in publicly available missing-person records as of October 2026.

Roy Edward Mitts Jr. disappeared from Concord, California, on March 11, 1985, at the age of 37. More than four decades later, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain largely undocumented in publicly accessible records. His whereabouts have not been publicly established, and no confirmed resolution has been located.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Case Summary

Full Name: Roy Edward Mitts Jr.

Date of Birth: October 17, 1947

Age at Disappearance: 37 years old

Last Seen: March 11, 1985

Last Known Location: Concord, Contra Costa County, California

Case Classification: Missing Person

Investigating Agency: Concord Police Department

Police Case Number: 87-8618

Current Status: Unresolved in publicly available missing-person records as of October 2026.

Roy Edward Mitts Jr. disappeared from Concord, California, on March 11, 1985, at the age of 37. More than four decades later, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain largely undocumented in publicly accessible records. His whereabouts have not been publicly established, and no confirmed resolution has been located.

Background and Circumstances of the Disappearance

Roy Edward Mitts Jr. was born on October 17, 1947. At the time of his disappearance, he was a 37-year-old man associated with Concord, a city in Contra Costa County in California’s East Bay region.

Available missing-person descriptions identify Mitts as a white male who stood approximately 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed around 140 pounds. He had brown hair and blue eyes.

One particularly distinctive identifying characteristic was the absence of his left leg, described in missing-person records as an amputation just below the hip. This physical characteristic could be important when evaluating historical sightings, medical records, or unidentified-person reports.

Little independently verified biographical information about Mitts is publicly available. His occupation, household circumstances, close relationships, and daily activities immediately before his disappearance have not been reliably established through the sources reviewed.

March 11, 1985: The Last Known Sighting

According to published missing-person records, Mitts was last seen in Concord on March 11, 1985. He subsequently disappeared and has not been publicly documented as having returned or been located.

The precise location of his last confirmed sighting has not been established in the accessible case summaries. Those sources do not identify the person who last saw him, the time of day he disappeared, or his intended destination.

There is also no verified public account establishing whether Mitts disappeared while traveling, leaving a residence, attending an appointment, or participating in another activity.

Information about his clothing, transportation, belongings, and immediate plans on March 11 has not been confirmed in the available sources.

These gaps are significant because the circumstances of a person’s final known movements often help investigators establish a timeline and identify potential witnesses. In Mitts’s case, the public record offers a date and city but few details about what occurred immediately before or after he vanished.

Investigation History and Available Evidence

The Concord Police Department is identified by the California Department of Justice as the law enforcement agency associated with Roy Edward Mitts Jr.’s disappearance. The department’s listed case number is 87-8618.

Although the police case number begins with 87, the publicly reported disappearance date is March 11, 1985. The available records do not explain the difference, and the number alone should not be interpreted as proof of when the investigation began or when the disappearance was first reported.

The Initial Investigation

Detailed records describing the initial police response have not been located in publicly accessible sources reviewed for this article.

Consequently, it is not possible to establish whether investigators conducted neighborhood searches, interviewed particular witnesses, examined specific locations, or obtained physical evidence shortly after Mitts disappeared.

The absence of published details should not be interpreted as evidence that those investigative steps never occurred. Police files may contain information that has not been released to the public.

Physical and Forensic Evidence

No verified public report reviewed for this article identifies physical evidence recovered in connection with Mitts’s disappearance.

There is no publicly confirmed account in the reviewed sources of recovered personal belongings, a vehicle associated with his disappearance, or a forensic finding establishing what happened to him.

Likewise, no case-specific public announcement confirming DNA testing, forensic genetic genealogy, or a successful comparison with unidentified human remains was located.

Modern missing-person investigations can involve DNA comparisons, fingerprint analysis, dental records, and other identification methods. However, the availability of these techniques does not establish that they have been used in Mitts’s particular case.

Missing-Person Databases and Case Documentation

Mitts appears in California’s official missing-person database, which identifies his birth date, investigating agency, and police case number.

Additional missing-person resources and community case discussions identify him under NamUs reference MP50896 and Doe Network reference 616DMCA. These identifiers can help distinguish his case from other missing-person reports.

The Doe Network describes his case as a missing-person case involving a physical disability. That classification reflects his identifying medical characteristic and should not be confused with a determination about the cause of his disappearance.

His continued appearance in missing-person resources preserves information that may assist someone who remembers him or encounters a potentially relevant historical record.

Theories and Unresolved Questions

The circumstances of Roy Edward Mitts Jr.’s disappearance remain unknown. Available public records do not establish whether he left voluntarily, experienced an accident or medical emergency, encountered another person, or became the victim of a crime.

These are general possibilities that can arise in missing-person investigations, not verified theories advanced by investigators in Mitts’s case. No particular explanation should be treated as more likely without supporting evidence.

Was Foul Play Involved?

No verified public evidence reviewed for this article establishes that Mitts was abducted or murdered. No officially identified suspect, criminal charge, or homicide determination connected to his disappearance was located.

His case therefore remains appropriately described as an unresolved disappearance rather than a confirmed homicide.

Did His Physical Disability Affect the Circumstances?

Mitts’s left-leg amputation is an important identifying detail, but available records do not establish how independently he traveled, whether he used mobility equipment, or whether he required assistance with daily activities.

It would be speculative to conclude that his disability caused or contributed to his disappearance. Its established significance is as a potentially useful characteristic for identification.

Questions That Remain Unanswered

Several fundamental questions remain unanswered in the publicly available documentation. Where exactly was Mitts last seen? Who last had confirmed contact with him? What was his intended destination, and when was someone first concerned about his whereabouts?

It is also unclear whether any credible sightings were reported after March 11, 1985, whether investigators identified potential leads, or whether previously collected information has been reassessed using newer investigative methods.

Answers to these questions may exist in investigative files, but they have not been established through the public materials examined for this article.

Latest Publicly Available Investigative Updates

As of October 30, 2026, no publicly confirmed recent investigative breakthrough or resolution involving Roy Edward Mitts Jr. was located in the sources reviewed.

The California Department of Justice continues to include his name in its publicly accessible missing-person records, identifying the Concord Police Department as the relevant investigating agency.

No verified recent announcement was located concerning an arrest, a newly identified suspect, the recovery of his remains, a confirmed DNA match, or the reopening of a previously closed investigation.

Continued Public Awareness

Public discussion of Mitts’s disappearance has continued through online missing-person communities. A Websleuths discussion dedicated to his case began on August 29, 2022, and includes information drawn from missing-person resources and historical research.

Some community participants have explored possible biographical connections and historical newspaper references. Such discussions may help preserve awareness, but unverified research and possible name matches should not be treated as established facts about Mitts’s life.

A further community discussion entry appeared in April 2026, referencing his Doe Network information. This represents continued public interest rather than a confirmed investigative development.

The Importance of Historical Information

With more than 41 years having passed since Mitts disappeared, information from people familiar with Concord in the mid-1980s could still be relevant.

Someone who knew Mitts personally, worked with him, lived near him, or recalls his activities around March 1985 may possess information that was never formally reported or that could provide additional context to existing records.

Even a seemingly minor recollection may help investigators assess a timeline, particularly when it can be supported by photographs, correspondence, dated records, or other documentation.

Conclusion and Public Appeal for Information

Roy Edward Mitts Jr. was 37 years old when he disappeared from Concord, California, on March 11, 1985. More than four decades later, his case remains unresolved in the publicly available missing-person records.

Despite the passage of time, the essential questions remain: Where did Mitts go, what happened after his last known sighting, and is there information that could finally explain his disappearance?

The limited public record makes it especially important to distinguish established facts from speculation. There is no verified basis for declaring his disappearance a homicide, naming a suspect, or claiming that investigators have reached a definitive conclusion.

Anyone with firsthand knowledge of Roy Edward Mitts Jr., his activities in Concord around March 11, 1985, or circumstances potentially connected to his disappearance is encouraged to contact the Concord Police Department at (925) 671-3220 and reference case number 87-8618.

Information may also be provided through the California Department of Justice missing-person hotline at 1-800-222-3463.

After so many years, a remembered conversation, a previously overlooked document, or a credible new account could still contribute to a clearer understanding of what happened. Roy Edward Mitts Jr.’s disappearance deserves careful attention, accurate reporting, and the continued consideration of anyone who may hold relevant information.