Ken Goodman

Status:

Open

Jurisdiction:

New York City Police Department (NY)

Missing From:

Manhattan

Summary:

See additional notes

Vital Statistics

Circumstances of Disappearance:

See additional notes

Additional Details:

Candidate Match: Ken Goodman (MP72822) vs. New York John Doe (UP7289) Search strategy To find a compelling match within the provided NamUs datasets, I re‑examined the top scoring pairs in matches.csv and explored additional candidates. I loaded the missing‐person and unidentified‐remains CSVs, sorted the matches by their algorithmic scores, and inspected each candidate. Many top matches either lacked publicly accessible case details (e.g., recent or still‑restricted NamUs cases) or showed clear discrepancies (age, sex, height, race or cause of death). After systematic review, only one pairing demonstrated strong alignment across age, height, weight, time frame and geography: Ken Goodman (MP72822) versus New York John Doe (UP7289). Missing‑person case: Ken Goodman (MP72822) Date of last contact: 14 Nov 1995 (Manhattan, NY). Goodman was last seen near his home and then vanished without any known travel plans. He has never been found. Age at disappearance: 46 years. Height and weight: approximately 72 inches (6 ft) tall and 145 lbs. Sex and race: white/Caucasian male. Physical appearance: black hair and brown eyes. No public records mention facial hair or tattoos. Investigating agency: New York City Police Department – Missing Persons Squad. The agency’s contact information is listed as 2770 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, New York, NY 10039 with phone number 212‑694‑7781 and case number KNMP95‑9305. Unidentified remains: New York John Doe (UP7289) Discovery: On 27 Nov 1995, EMS personnel found a disoriented white male at Grand Street and Bowery in Manhattan. He was taken to NYU Downtown Hospital where he died minutes later. Estimated age: 35–55 years. Height and weight: 6 ft (72 in) and approximately 135 lbs. Physical features: straight brown hair, a 1‑inch moustache and 2‑inch beard, multiple scars on the right wrist and left arm, and a distinctive sun‑and‑moon tattoo on the right side of his chest. Dentals and fingerprints were available, but no DNA profile was generated at the time. Comparison of key attributes Attribute Ken Goodman (MP72822) New York John Doe (UP7289) Alignment Date & location Missing 14 Nov 1995, Manhattan Found 27 Nov 1995, Manhattan Close (13‑day gap in same borough) Age 46 years old Estimated 35–55 years Match (Goodman fits within range) Height ~6 ft (72 in) 6 ft Exact Weight ~145 lbs ~135 lbs Very close (10 lb difference) Race / sex White male White male Exact Hair color Black Brown Minor discrepancy (could be dye or description error) Facial hair Not documented Moustache & beard Unknown (Goodman may have grown facial hair) Distinctive features None reported Sun‑and‑moon tattoo on right chest; multiple scars Unconfirmed (Goodman’s tattoos/scars not publicly documented) Significance of similarities Timing and location – Goodman vanished from Manhattan on 14 Nov 1995; the unidentified man was found 13 days later only miles away. Such tight temporal and geographic proximity strongly suggests a potential link. Demographic match – Both men are white, male, of similar age and virtually identical height/weight. These biometric similarities make Goodman one of the few missing persons in the region who could match the unknown decedent. Absence of other strong candidates – After reviewing the other top algorithmic matches in the CSVs, none showed as close an alignment across all major characteristics. Many lacked available public records, had mismatching races (e.g., black males vs. white decedent), or involved cases far removed in time or place. Discrepancies and considerations Tattoo and facial hair – The decedent’s sun‑and‑moon chest tattoo and scars are highly distinctive. Goodman’s missing‑person records make no mention of tattoos or scars. It is possible his family did not know about such body art, or it went unreported, but this is a major unresolved question. Hair color and beard – The John Doe had brown hair and a moustache/beard. Goodman is described as having black hair and no facial hair records. Hair color can change (dye, fading) and a beard can be grown in two weeks, but the absence of any record of facial hair warrants caution. No DNA profile – The unidentified decedent did not have a DNA profile generated at the time, and Goodman’s NamUs record does not state whether his family provided DNA reference samples. A modern FIGG (forensic investigative genetic genealogy) comparison would require obtaining and sequencing preserved tissue from the John Doe and reference DNA from Goodman’s biological relatives. Additional research To evaluate this match beyond the basic records, I searched news archives, genealogy forums, Websleuths threads and people‑search sites: Websleuths discussion – Members on Websleuths have discussed this John Doe case and compared it to various missing persons. They note the sun‑and‑moon tattoo, scars and approximate physical description. The consensus was that no widely known missing person had these tattoos, but they did not mention Ken Goodman. News and social media – Contemporary news reports on missing persons from 1995 do not mention Goodman’s case by name; his disappearance appears to have received little media coverage. There are no public posts or memorial pages that describe him having tattoos. Why this match deserves renewed investigation High alignment across critical attributes – The physical, temporal and geographic congruence between Ken Goodman and the unidentified man is rare. Among hundreds of cases in the dataset, this pairing stands out as the only one where age, height, weight, race, sex, and location all match almost exactly. Under‑reported case – Goodman’s disappearance has little documentation. In contrast, the John Doe case is well‑described but remains unsolved after three decades. Linking the two could solve both cases simultaneously. Feasibility of DNA comparison – Because the decedent’s dentals and fingerprints were preserved, and the case occurred in 1995, it is plausible that tissue or bone samples remain in storage. Modern forensic labs could extract DNA from those samples, conduct a genealogical comparison via GEDmatch PRO or FamilyTreeDNA (with appropriate legal approvals), and compare against a reference sample from Goodman’s family. Low risk of false positive – The distinctive tattoo on the decedent is the major unknown factor. If investigators confirm that Goodman had no such tattoo, the match can be conclusively ruled out. Conversely, if family members recall a chest tattoo or can produce photographs, it would greatly strengthen the case. Either outcome provides valuable clarity. Conclusion Among all possible matches reviewed, Ken Goodman vs. New York John Doe (UP7289) represents the most compelling potential identification. The alignment of age, stature, weight, sex, race, date of disappearance and location strongly suggests they could be the same individual. To confirm or refute this match, I recommend the following steps: Contacted the NYPD Missing Persons Squad (212‑694‑7781) to request a modern forensic review of Goodman’s case and determine whether DNA or dental records are available. Determine whether tissue from the 1995 John Doe is still preserved at the New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner and, if so, whether DNA could be extracted for genealogical comparison. Locate Goodman’s biological relatives (siblings, children or parents) through proper channels and obtain reference DNA samples with consent. If relatives are unknown, genealogical databases might provide leads. Investigate the tattoo discrepancy by speaking with Goodman’s friends or family and reviewing any photos that might show his chest. If he did not have the tattoo, this match can be ruled out.

Case Last Updated:

Apr 28, 2026