The person at the center of this case
Hector Christopher Cottrell
Missing Person · Open
21 years waiting · since 2004
Missing Person: Hector Christopher Cottrell
Justice for Hector Christopher Cottrell — the trail went cold in 2004, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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location
Lead #1Who paid for Cottrell's two-week motel stay and why?
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witness
Lead #2Who gave Cottrell the ride to the motel on December 20, 2004?
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clue
Lead #3Did Cottrell check out of the motel or abandon his room after the paid period?
Hector Christopher Cottrell, a 56-year-old man, was last seen on December 20, 2004, after being given a ride to a local motel in Oceanside, California, where his two-week stay was paid for. Family members never heard from him again after that date. The circumstances of his disappearance remain unclear, and investigators continue to seek information about what happened to him.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
📞
contact
Lead #4Were there any attempts by Cottrell to contact family or friends after December 20, 2004?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP56955. Missing person: Hector Christopher Cottrell.
Last known contact: 2004-12-20 in Oceanside, San Diego, CA. Circumstances: Hector Cottrell was given a ride to a local motel on 12-20-04.
His stay was paid for two weeks. Family did not hear from Cottrell again.
Demographics: 56 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 9 in, 180 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown.
Clothing and accessories: Clothing: last seen wearing many layers of clothing, flip flop sandals with socks. Investigating agency: Oceanside Police Department | 05017731 | 2005-07-18.
Timeline of Events
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2004-12-20
Last Known Contact
Hector Cottrell was given a ride to a local motel in Oceanside. His stay was paid for two weeks.
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2004-12-20
Last Contact with Family
Family did not hear from Cottrell again after this date.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 20, 2004
Last Updated:September 27, 2026
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Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 7604354846
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Case Information
Incident:December 20, 2004
Last Updated:September 27, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 7604354846
You can remain anonymous