CA CA - Joseph Anthony Stuart, 35, Fullerton, 6 Sept 1991

[TheArtfulDetective]

Joseph Anthony Stuart



Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: September 6, 1991
Location Last Seen: Fullerton, Orange County, California

Description:

• Date of Birth: circa 1956
• Age: 35
• Race: White/Caucasian
• Gender: Male
• Height: 5' 8" (68 inches)
• Weight: 190 lbs
• Hair Color: Brown
• Eye Color: Blue
• Nickname/Alias: Unknown
• Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown
• Clothing & Personal Items: Blue work shirt and blue jeans.
• Identifiers: Dental records available.

Circumstances of Disappearance:
Stuart went missing from Fullerton, California on September 6, 1991. He was last seen by a friend and mentioned that he was heading up to Reno, Nevada to look into a possible job prospect. He has never been heard from again.

Stuart had left his landlord a note dated September 6, stating that he was going fishing and would be back on Monday. His landlord reported him missing on September 26 after she had not seen him for a couple of weeks. She became worried and entered Stuart's room where she discovered two notebooks where he wrote about contemplating suicide. His whereabouts remain unknown.

Investigators:

• Fullerton Police Department: (714) 738-6700
  Reference Case#: 91-2335

NCIC Case Number: Not available
NamUs Case Number: MP29973

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[TheArtfulDetective]

There's no mention of a vehicle. Did he have one? Was it found? Usually NamUs mentions a vehicle if there is one involved.

How was he planning to go fishing or to Reno if he didn't have a car? Or was that a guise because he was suicidal and didn't plan on doing either? Seems like he would need a vehicle no matter what his plans were, unless he hitchhiked.

Did he have fishing gear that's missing?

Why did he tell two different stories as to what he was allegedly going to do?

Was there any reasons uncovered as to why he may have been suicidal?

 

[TheArtfulDetective]

Good analysis on Stuart's case for you guys out there that match the UID's.

Joseph Anthony Stuart (NamUs #29973) - 2nd attempt

 

[JSolt1210]

Good analysis on Stuart's case for you guys out there that match the UID's.

Joseph Anthony Stuart (NamUs #29973) - 2nd attempt

That is a pretty good analysis, and from the way it's presented, I kinda think UP #2294 might be him.

The only thing that sticks out to me, though, is that "UP #2294, was found near highway 15. He was buried and skeletonized." If Joseph ended his own life, how would he have been buried? Can that happen with the passage of time?

The different stories Joseph gave to explain his absence (along with his notebooks) do suggest suicidal intent to me. It actually reminds me of James Martin Roberts who gave wildly different stories about where he was going before he disappeared. But then again, maybe Joseph told the landlord he was just going fishing because if the job was in Reno, then the landlord would know he was planning on moving, and Joseph didn't want to divulge that just yet.

Point is, if Joseph did end his life, then I doubt that UP is him because he was found buried. But if Joseph was looking into a job, then he could've been murdered and the UP could be him.

 

[Nate_Bro]

Good analysis on Stuart's case for you guys out there that match the UID's.

Joseph Anthony Stuart (NamUs #29973) - 2nd attempt

Very cool. Is that your blog?

 

[TheArtfulDetective]

Very cool. Is that your blog?

I wish I could take credit for it but nope, it's not my blog.

 

[cheemsg]

May 15, 1973, page 10 - The Peninsula Times Tribune at Newspapers.com - Newspapers.com

This marriage news from 1973 could possibly be about him

 

[Lawyeriii]

I personally knew Joe. His landlord told me he was was pretty depressed over losing his job as a beer truck driver due to being arrested for a DWI. He left all his belongings behind in his garage apartment. He left his pickup truck behind also. On top of his dresser was only one item. It was the title to his truck and it was signed, but not dated, as if he left it there so someone could sell it. Very strange. I remember reading parts of his notebooks and remember reading how he blamed president Reagan for him not being able to win the lottery. I didn't do a throughout reading of the notebooks. His landlord, my friends mom, kept in touch with the police and she said that he rented a car, which was found at the end of a dirt road way up in the mountains. His last transaction on his credit card was at a bar up in the mountains (not sure where though). He was seen drinking with a few guys, but not sure if he left with them. His landlord and I always thought that he wandered off in the mountains and killed himself, or someone from the bar killed him. The police never solved this case, nor was Joe's body ever found. Wish I could be more help, but this was 34 years ago. He had a brother (maybe a stepbrother) who lived a few blocks away, but when the landlord told him about Joe's disappearance, he really didn't care as they were not close to each other. That's about it. I remember his dog tags from the air force and his religion was listed as "atheist". Wish I had more for you guys. RIP Joe!

 

[Lawyeriii]

That is a pretty good analysis, and from the way it's presented, I kinda think UP #2294 might be him.

The only thing that sticks out to me, though, is that "UP #2294, was found near highway 15. He was buried and skeletonized." If Joseph ended his own life, how would he have been buried? Can that happen with the passage of time?

The different stories Joseph gave to explain his absence (along with his notebooks) do suggest suicidal intent to me. It actually reminds me of James Martin Roberts who gave wildly different stories about where he was going before he disappeared. But then again, maybe Joseph told the landlord he was just going fishing because if the job was in Reno, then the landlord would know he was planning on moving, and Joseph didn't want to divulge that just yet.

Point is, if Joseph did end his life, then I doubt that UP is him because he was found buried. But if Joseph was looking into a job, then he could've been murdered and the UP could be him.

I quoted on this thread. Please see my comments at the end of this
thread. I believe I answered some of your questions.

 

[JSolt1210]

I personally knew Joe. His landlord told me he was was pretty depressed over losing his job as a beer truck driver due to being arrested for a DWI. He left all his belongings behind in his garage apartment. He left his pickup truck behind also. On top of his dresser was only one item. It was the title to his truck and it was signed, but not dated, as if he left it there so someone could sell it. Very strange. I remember reading parts of his notebooks and remember reading how he blamed president Reagan for him not being able to win the lottery. I didn't do a throughout reading of the notebooks. His landlord, my friends mom, kept in touch with the police and she said that he rented a car, which was found at the end of a dirt road way up in the mountains. His last transaction on his credit card was at a bar up in the mountains (not sure where though). He was seen drinking with a few guys, but not sure if he left with them. His landlord and I always thought that he wandered off in the mountains and killed himself, or someone from the bar killed him. The police never solved this case, nor was Joe's body ever found. Wish I could be more help, but this was 34 years ago. He had a brother (maybe a stepbrother) who lived a few blocks away, but when the landlord told him about Joe's disappearance, he really didn't care as they were not close to each other. That's about it. I remember his dog tags from the air force and his religion was listed as "atheist". Wish I had more for you guys. RIP Joe!

Thank you so much for the information you shared. It definitely helps to fill in some of the blanks, and unfortunately makes me lean more in the direction of a suicide.

What stood out to me first was how Joseph didn't win the lottery and blamed President Reagan for that. That doesn't sound to me like a coherent or logical statement, suggesting Joseph's state of mind wasn't right at the time.

Also, Joseph left the title of the truck in plain view as if he wanted someone to sell it. Do you think this was for the landlord? Like Joseph knew he wasn't coming back, so he left something the landlord could sell in order to cover a few months' rent?

The bar that Joseph went to—was that his first time there? Or did he go regularly or occasionally? Either way, it sounds to me like he just wanted to have one last good time. But if he never went there before, and yet was last seen with a few guys, then those guys are likely strangers, which of course opens up other possibilities.

Since you knew Joseph personally, if you feel comfortable sharing, what was he like? How did he get along with others? Is there a reason he wasn't close to his (step)brother? Anything you can remember could place additional theories on the table.

You might also consider becoming a Verified Insider on this site. That way, anything you post about Joseph's case does not need to be backed up by mainstream media sources.

 

[Lawyeriii]

Hello, Joe was a few years older than me. I moved into his garage apartment and his landlord told me about him disappearing. From everything I remember, the police weren't a lot of help. I'm not saying they didn't do their due diligence, it's just that his landlord had to call them evey few months to find out what was going on with the case. From what I remember it sounded like he didn't visit the bar regularly. I think it was only 1 time. His truck was a Ford F150 and was in halfway decent condition. Joe had a medium amount of friends in high school, but I was in a loose circle of his friends. Losing his job as a beer truck driver put a shame on him according to his landlord. He didn't have a girlfriend. I remember him being a short guy. Maybe 5'6" and a little stocky. As far as his relationship with his brother or half brother I don't know anything about that. I didn't know him or any family members at b all. He was in the air force after high school. Being a beer truck driver back in the late 80's and early 90's was kinda cool in our circle of friends. From talking to his landlord, who knew him since he was a teenager, she definitely gave me the impression that he probably killed himself. We didn't find any ammo or gun related things in going through his stuff. The landlords on had died back in 1980 by accidental drowning, so there is the possibility that he just took off and stole her son's identity and started a new life. Back in those days it b would have been possible to do that. Her son was different color eyes, green, and about 3" taller. Who knows. FYI, I've tried reaching out to his landlords family through friends a few weeks ago, but haven't heard anything. Not sure she's still alive. She would be in her 80's now. If I find out any other facts, I'll be sure to post them. God bless!

 

[Lawyeriii]

BTW, I forgot to mention that the bar he went to was somewhere in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Not sure where though. Her son's name that passed away was Glenn Murray and he died rafting in the Santa Ana River. I found an article on her son's death in the LA Times archives.I used to go bar hopping a lot back in the early to mid eighties, but I don't recall seeing Joe in any of the bars. I was kinda surprised when I read some of the stuff in his journals. I just remember at the time that it didn't sound like he was a mentally stable person. With regards to the title to his truck being left on the dresser, yes I do think he meant for his landlord to fund it. She eventually sold his truck about a year after his disappearance. My thoughts are that either he killed himself, or he stole her dead son's identity. One thing I do remember is that I don't recall finding any birth certificate, photos, or other personal things that most people have. He went to Fullerton Union High School in Fullerton ca and I think he graduated in 1975. The landlords son's name was Glenn Patrick Murray and he never graduated but if he did it would have been in 1976. If I think of anything else, I'll post it. Happy hunting and God bless.