The person at the center of this case
Randy Stewart Doran
Violent Crime · Open
48 years waiting · since 1978
RANDY STEWART DORAN - NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
Justice for Randy Stewart Doran — the trail went cold in 1978, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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location
Lead #1What was Doran's exact role and duration of employment on the SS President riverboat or the New Orleans shipping docks?
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witness
Lead #2Did coworkers, dock employees, or fellow travelers encounter Doran in New Orleans between early April and his disappearance?
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clue
Lead #3Doran carried a small pocket Bible and was an avid guitarist—have these items or any personal effects ever been recovered?
Randy Stewart Doran, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and creative traveler, disappeared in April 1978 after calling his aunt from New Orleans to say he was working on a shipping dock, possibly aboard the SS President riverboat. His last known contact was a postcard to his aunt stating he was doing fine, followed by complete silence for nearly five decades. Despite available fingerprints and family DNA in CODIS, no trace of Doran has been found—investigators seek anyone who may have encountered him on the docks, aboard vessels, or during his cross-country travels.
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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.
⏰
timeline
Lead #4Why did communication cease so abruptly after the April postcard, and what circumstances might have prevented him from contacting family again?
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person
Lead #5As a hitchhiker traveling from California to Florida, did Doran connect with other transient workers or travelers who might recall his plans or associates?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
April 1, 1978 New Orleans, Louisiana Randy Stewart Doran left his family’s Los Angeles, California, residence in early 1978. His last communication with family members was in early April 1978 when he called an aunt, stating he was working on a shipping dock (possibly on the SS President riverboat) in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Prior to his disappearance, he sent a postcard to his aunt from New Orleans saying he was doing fine. He has never been heard from again.
Doran was known to hitchhike, traveling across the country from California to Florida. He was a U.S.
Marine Corps veteran, an avid guitar player, and liked to write short stories and poetry. He also carried a small pocket Bible with him.
Fingerprints are available for comparison, and DNA from family members is in CODIS.
Timeline of Events
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1978-01-01
Doran leaves Los Angeles
Randy Stewart Doran departed his family's Los Angeles residence in early 1978
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1978-04-01
Last communication with family
Doran called his aunt from New Orleans stating he was working on a shipping dock, possibly on the SS President riverboat
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1978-04-01
Postcard from New Orleans
Doran sent a postcard to his aunt from New Orleans saying he was doing fine; this was his last known communication
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 1978
Last Updated:October 30, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 1978
Last Updated:October 30, 2026