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 Randy's exact role and duration of employment on the SS President riverboat or other New Orleans shipping docks?
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witness
Lead #2Did coworkers, dock staff, or fellow travelers encounter Randy after early April 1978?
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person
Lead #3Why did Randy leave Los Angeles in early 1978, and what was his intended destination or purpose?
Randy Stewart Doran, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and creative traveler, disappeared in early 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 an early April 1978 phone call and a postcard from New Orleans; he has not been heard from in over 45 years. Despite available fingerprints and family DNA in CODIS, the circumstances of his disappearance remain unknown, and investigators seek information from anyone who may have encountered him during his travels or worked with him in New Orleans.
Case
#525
FBI Violent Crimes Against Children and Missing Persons Unit (VICAP)
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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 small pocket Bible he carried could serve as identifying evidence if recovered—has it ever been found?
⏰
timeline
Lead #5Are there any records of his hitchhiking route between California and New Orleans that could narrow the search?
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
👁️
1978-04-01
Last communication with family
Randy called his aunt from New Orleans stating he was working on a shipping dock, possibly on the SS President riverboat
📞
1978-04
Postcard sent
Sent postcard to his aunt from New Orleans saying he was doing fine
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:April 1, 1978
Last Updated:June 16, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 1, 1978
Last Updated:June 16, 2026