CA CA - John Howard Mackirdy, 22, San Francisco, 15 Dec 1978

[chaddylex]

Newer Addition to NamUs

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

Missing Person / NamUs #MP123764
John Howard Mackirdy,
Male, White / Caucasian

Case Information​

Demographics​

Missing Age 22 Years
Current Age 68 Years
Legal First Name John
Middle Name Howard
Legal Last Name Mackirdy
Chosen Name/Nickname/Alias--

Biological Sex Male
Height5' 6" (66 Inches)
Weight 135 lbs
Race / Ethnicity White / Caucasian

Circumstances​

Date of Last Contact December 15, 1978
NamUs Case Created June 10, 2024

Last Known Location​

Location South San Francisco, California
County San Francisco County
Missing From Tribal Land No
Primary Residence on Tribal Land--
Circumstances of Disappearance Mackirdy was last seen in San Francisco visiting friends on 12/15/1978. He was to meet an unknown male for dinner that night and he never returned to friend's residence.

Physical Description​

Hair Color Brown
Head Hair Description--
Body Hair Description--
Facial Hair Description--
Left Eye Color Brown
Right Eye Color Brown
Eye Description--

---

Distinctive Physical Features​

Item
Description
Scar/mark
scar on chin

Clothing and Accessories​

Item
Description
Clothing
Blue nylon jacket with fur collar, white t-shirt, jeans, black boots

 

[alb1on]

It appears he was very involved in the San Francisco gay scene (see attached clipping) and that may be a factor in his disappearance. His parents retained an investigator but presumably he made little headway.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Is there a chance he just went off to "start a new life?" I wonder if his recent addition to NamUs means a relative is looking for him, though.

John Howard Mackirdy – The Charley Project

John Howard Mackirdy

oag.ca.gov

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Is there a chance he just went off to "start a new life?" I wonder if his recent addition to NamUs means a relative is looking for him, though.

John Howard Mackirdy – The Charley Project

John Howard Mackirdy

oag.ca.gov

I entered him into NAMUS a year ago, when I was doing a series of LGBTQ+ missing person write-ups on Reddit for Pride Month 2024.

Born on July 6th of 1958, John MacKirdy was only twenty-two when he disappeared from San Francisco's Folsom Street in the South of Market district a week before Christmas. The young man, originally from the suburbs of Los Angeles, was visiting San Francisco and staying in the Castro District.

A bulletin in the San Francisco Crusader, a local gay-centric newspaper, makes specific note that John was known to partake in 'the scene' in Folsom Street, likely referring to the gay leather subculture that the neighborhood has become synonymous with.

Though his whereabouts remain unknown, John's family suspect he may have met with foul play, not believing he would have left behind his belongings and unopened Christmas presents otherwise. They have displayed a cenotaph in their family plot, listing his date of death as the year he disappeared.

When he vanished, John MacKirdy wore a blue nylon jacket with a fur collar, a white t-shirt over a pair of jeans, and black boots. His dental records are available. John is described as a white male, about sixty-nine inches (175 cm) tall with brown hair and brown eyes. He has a scar underneath his chin.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/1dshagw/in_honor_of_pride_month_ive_decided_to_highlight

 

[DS2021]

I'm hoping Kraft is looked into. I don't think it's out of the question that he ended up in NoCal at some point.

The Dennis McDougal book on kraft mentioned someone in his life saying he liked to drive for hours.

 

[Leprikawn]

I'm hoping Kraft is looked into. I don't think it's out of the question that he ended up in NoCal at some point.

The Dennis McDougal book on kraft mentioned someone in his life saying he liked to drive for hours.

That could be. I remember years ago going through this site and seeing a bunch of missing men in the bay area, between 1977 and 1986. Always made me wonder if there was a serial killer working quietly? Some of the men left for work and never came home.