The person at the center of this case
Louis Kelem
Missing Person · Open
37 years waiting · since 1988
Missing Person: Louis Kelem
Justice for Louis Kelem — the trail went cold in 1988, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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location
Lead #1Why was his vehicle found in Palm Springs when he was last seen in Century City? What does this distance suggest about his movements?
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evidence
Lead #2What condition was the vehicle in when discovered, and were there any personal items or evidence inside?
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suspect
Lead #3Who had access to his vehicle and knowledge of both Century City and Palm Springs locations?
Louis Kelem, a 66-year-old white male, disappeared on December 16, 1988, from Century City in Los Angeles while wearing a distinctive reddish leather jacket. His abandoned vehicle was found in Palm Springs, approximately 100 miles away, suggesting foul play. Despite decades of investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, the circumstances of his disappearance remain unsolved and his whereabouts unknown.
Case
#2018
Los Angeles Police Department - Adult Missing Persons Unit
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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.
💡
clue
Lead #4The distinctive reddish leather jacket and specific clothing described could aid identification—have any sightings been reported matching this description?
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 MP17758. Missing person: Louis Kelem.
Last known contact: 1988-12-16 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA. Circumstances: Louis Kelem was last seen on December 16, 1988, in the Century City section of Los Angeles, California.
His car was located in Palm Springs. Foul play is suspected.
Demographics: 66 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 6 in, 140 lbs, hair: Gray or Partially Gray, eyes: Brown.
Clothing and accessories: Clothing: Reddish leather sport coat style jacket, white v-necked sweater with brown stripes, white pattern dress shirt, and brown wool pants; Footwear: a pair of brown laced shoes. Investigating agency: Los Angeles Police Department- Adult Missing Persons Unit | 880745000.
Timeline of Events
👁️
1988-12-16
Last Seen in Century City
Louis Kelem was last seen on December 16, 1988, in the Century City section of Los Angeles, California.
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1988-12-16
Vehicle Located in Palm Springs
His car was found abandoned in Palm Springs, approximately 100 miles from his last known location.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 16, 1988
Last Updated:June 6, 2026
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Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8772755273
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Case Information
Incident:December 16, 1988
Last Updated:June 6, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8772755273
You can remain anonymous