CrimeOwl AI logoCrimeOwl AI
CasesBlogPricingAboutLaw Enforcement
  1. Home
  2. /
  3. Cases
  4. /
  5. JOHN BUI TRAN
Back to CasesMore Cases
John Bui Tran

The person at the center of this case

John Bui Tran

Case
#175
SourceFBI WantedUpdated Mar 15, 2026
Federal Bureau of Investigation (Boston Division), Randolph Police Department, Boston Police Department
Missing Person · Open
21 years waiting · since 2005

JOHN BUI TRAN

Justice for John Bui Tran — the trail went cold in 2005, but the truth hasn't.

Start here

Key leads to think about

👁️
witness
Lead #1

Who else attended the party on Mitchell Street on April 2, 2005, and what was Tran's demeanor or plans when he left?

🚗
vehicle
Lead #2

Tran routinely traveled by bicycle—was his bike ever recovered, and did anyone see him cycling away from the party?

🔍
evidence
Lead #3

Given Tran's regular blood donations, medical records or facility visits around April 2005 might provide timeline clues.

John Bui Tran, a 28-year-old Vietnamese-American college student, disappeared on April 2, 2005, after attending a party on Mitchell Street in Randolph, Massachusetts. He was last seen carrying his characteristic dark backpack and bicycle, with no confirmed sightings or remains recovered in nearly two decades. The FBI, Randolph Police, and Boston Police continue to seek information about his whereabouts or remains, offering a $10,000 reward for credible leads.

Case
#175
SourceFBI WantedUpdated Mar 15, 2026
Federal Bureau of Investigation (Boston Division), Randolph Police Department, Boston Police Department

Try asking

Claim this imported case

A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.

10 uploads25 AI questions/day

This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.

More leads to consider

Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.

💡
clue
Lead #4

Why was his disappearance classified as 'suspicious' rather than voluntary—what specific circumstances raised investigative concerns?

👤
person
Lead #5

Did Tran have any known conflicts, relationships, or connections to individuals in the Randolph area that might explain his disappearance?

Have information about any of these leads?

Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.

Official wording

Source Narrative

April 2, 2005 Randolph, Massachusetts The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Boston Division, the Randolph Police Department, and the Boston Police Department, are investigating the suspicious disappearance of John Bui Tran and asking for the public’s assistance in locating him or his remains. Tran was last seen on April 2, 2005, at a party on Mitchell Street in Randolph, Massachusetts.

Remarks: Tran moved from West Covina, California, to Dorchester, Massachusetts, in the summer of 2004 to attend Quincy College on a part-time basis. He majored in liberal arts with the goal of writing screenplays for movies and television.

He lived on Church Street in Dorchester and was employed at a pet supply store in Quincy. Tran routinely donated blood and was often seen on his bicycle, carrying a dark-colored backpack.

Tran is a naturalized United States citizen.

Timeline of Events

📍
2004-06-01

Relocated to Massachusetts

Tran moved from West Covina, California, to Dorchester, Massachusetts, to attend Quincy College part-time, majoring in liberal arts with aspirations to write screenplays.

👁️
2005-04-02

Last Seen at Party

Tran was last seen at a party on Mitchell Street in Randolph, Massachusetts. He was known to carry a dark-colored backpack and travel by bicycle.

Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case

Case Information

Incident:June 1, 2004
Last Updated:September 3, 2026

Up to $10,000 Reward

For information leading to the resolution of this case

Leave a comment

Comments

Case Information

Incident:June 1, 2004
Last Updated:September 3, 2026

Up to $10,000 Reward

For information leading to the resolution of this case