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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witness
Lead #1Who gave Cottrell the ride to the motel, and what was their relationship to him?
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location
Lead #2Which specific motel in Oceanside was he taken to, and did staff have any interactions with him?
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clue
Lead #3Why was his motel stay pre-paid for two weeks, and who arranged this payment?
Hector Christopher Cottrell, a 56-year-old man, was dropped off at a local motel in Oceanside, California on December 20, 2004, with his stay paid for two weeks. His family never heard from him again after that date. Nearly two decades later, 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.
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contact
Lead #4Did Cottrell attempt to contact family or friends during his two-week stay?
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evidence
Lead #5What happened after the two-week motel stay ended—did he check out or simply disappear?
Have information about any of these leads?
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
👁️
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.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 20, 2004
Last Updated:September 2, 2026
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Phone: 7604354846
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Case Information
Incident:December 20, 2004
Last Updated:September 2, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 7604354846
You can remain anonymous