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 workplace on the shipping dock or SS President riverboat, and did coworkers see him after early April 1978?
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witness
Lead #2Who did Randy interact with during his time in New Orleans, and did anyone see him after his last phone call?
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clue
Lead #3Where did Randy travel after leaving Los Angeles, and what route did he take hitchhiking to reach New Orleans?
Randy Stewart Doran, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and traveling musician, disappeared in April 1978 after calling his aunt from New Orleans to say he was working on a shipping dock. His last known contact was a postcard from New Orleans stating he was doing fine, but 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 continue seeking information about his final days.
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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.
🔍
evidence
Lead #4Has the small pocket Bible he carried been located, and could it contain identifying information or clues?
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person
Lead #5Are there any unidentified remains in Louisiana from 1978 that could be compared against Randy's available fingerprints and family DNA?
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
Randy called his aunt stating he was working on a shipping dock, possibly on the SS President riverboat in New Orleans, Louisiana
📞
1978-04-01
Postcard from New Orleans
Sent postcard to his aunt from New Orleans saying he was doing fine prior to disappearance
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:April 1, 1978
Last Updated:April 29, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:April 1, 1978
Last Updated:April 29, 2026