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Sightings of a missing man after a boating accident give his family hope.
CASE DETAILS In September of 1991, a disoriented, penniless, and obviously out of place young American man wandered into the Mexican village of Colonia Vicente Guerrero, 300 miles south of San Diego. He lingered for months, living on hand-outs and the charity of strangers. Many now believe the man was Gordon Collins, who had been missing for five months.  The boat was found overturned In April 1991, Gordon was vacationing with his girlfriend, Anastasia Seals, and another couple, near Santa Rosalia, a popular deep sea fishing port near the middle of the Baja Peninsula. Four days after they arrived, the group rented a boat at a local hotel. Gordon’s friend, Wayne Schwartz, had fished off the Baja coast many times. As the group left port, a fisherman on his way in warned them that a storm was brewing. Several hours later, a fierce storm hit the area. Gordon and his friends never returned. The next day, a hotel employee discovered the bodies of Gordon’s girlfriend, Anastasia Seals, and Wayne Schwartz. But Gordon and Wayne’s wife, Arlean Burlington, were never found. Gordon father, John Collins, described what the searchers found:
For three days, the United States Coast Guard searched a 250-mile area, but found nothing. It seemed obvious that Gordon and Arlean had also perished.  His parents searched for him in Mexico In time, Gordon and Arlean’s parents were asked to sign death certificates. However, reports that Gordon was still alive had already begun to come in from Mexico. Some thought he might be suffering from amnesia. When Gordon Collins’ parents traveled to the site of the accident, they found two Mexican fishermen who said they had seen a man matching Gordon’s description wander out of the ocean. He was wearing only shorts and was covered in cuts. They said they saw him trying to board a bus. John Collins recalls his reaction:
 Many people say they saw Gordon Around the same time, a man named Jose Peralta also sighted Gordon on a nearby beach.
John Collins tells of other confirmations:
Over the next three months, Gordon Collins was spotted at least fifty times in seven different locations, all in the area of La Paz and Cabo San Lucas, at the southern end of the Baja Peninsula. Gordon’s parents hired Bill Garcia, a private investigator, who alerted newspapers in Baja. After the articles ran, Garcia received several calls from a village 300 miles south of Tijuana. Raul Amador says he remembers Gordon vividly:
Bill Garcia believes the villagers:
When the man identified as Gordon was arrested for stealing food, the local sheriff brought in James Hatfield, an American living in the village, to translate. James said he was sure the man he met was Gordon Collins:
But Bill Garcia didn’t make it in time:
Over the next year, sporadic sightings of Gordon continued. The U.S. Consulate has officially reversed its position and no longer presumes that Gordon Collins is dead. John Collins holds onto hope that he may see his son again:
Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season five with Robert Stack and in season one with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP |
Lynn M
I hope that anyone who thinks they may have spotted Gordon within the last few years recognizes that Gordon was born in 1957 and went missing in 1991… As of 2021 he will be a 64 year old man who may or may not have been homeless for the past 30 years. It’s unlikely that he’s still a blonde man that resembles the sketch or show reenactment or a youthful Jesus. He’s probably going to look very weathered and aged with grey hair or maybe even balding.
Jo
I was at the Hotel Serinidad that year and remember seeing the flyer on the office window. We didn’t go because of the weather. It makes me so sad that I’m 2022 he still hasn’t been found. I pray he will be found.
Olla.
Hello unsolved. I can’t seem to be able to click the “reply” it doesn’t work for me either, in any of your posts, had to come down here and comment, please assist .
Unsolved Mysteries Post author
Hi Olla – we are sorry to hear about this issue. Can you please email us some additional information at unsolved@unsolved.com? Please let us know if you are on a smartphone, tablet, or computer, and what operating system and version you are using. Thank you.
Laura R
Hi my name is Laura I live in San Diego I travel to Tijuana Often I have family that live in Tijuana. My family lives in a town called El Florido There is a market up the hill called Soriana On the other side of the corner it’s a church, ice cream store Down the hill it’s a market called Calimax The businesses around the corner is a little Caesars some kind of school in the corner or hardware store and another ice cream spot. Sorry I don’t remember the street names but it’s a very common place. There is a man that resembles Gordon living in an abandoned mechanic shop while he seemed off in there but he walks up and down the hill very disoriented speaks good English so we know he’s American I hope it helps good luck
I plan to go back in the next month I’ll try to look and see if I can take a picture God bless you
Daniel
I suspect that they all died while out at sea. When I watched this episode, I felt it made no sense. An entire town, seemingly knowing who this man was wondering the roads, yet nobody seem to know in particular where he was went or where he’s going seemingly only missing him by mere minutes of having asked. I feel like the parents wished their child was still alive, and I felt pain and great sadness for their loss.
T MCC
I feel he’s “lost and wandering”. He is disoriented and has not crossed over because he is confused. It’s been his soul that everyone is coming in contact with.
Rocky Schurman
I agree 100%. I think they all saw his spirit wandering around lost. God bless his family. I hope he rests in peace.
Bill Blaski
Unsolved team: when posting a comment it does not allow me on my iPhone to click the reply button? Thus meaning I can’t respond to a specific comment. I am able to go to the bottom and leave this reply.
Just watched the Gordon Collins episode on Pluto TV. I do believe Gordon drowned unfortunately. Hard to explain all the sightings of him after the boat disaster.
Unsolved Mysteries Post author
Hi Bill – thank you for letting us know about the issue. We have reported it to our webmaster.
Bill Blaski
Thanks! It’s fixed
Dolores Herrera
I just seen on social media that a man fitting the description as Gordon is looking and crying cause he knows he’s someone he just can’t remember. He is lost out in Mexico please someone look into it on Facebook. I am asking please look into this immediately. Thank you
Unsolved Mysteries Post author
Thank you very much for submitting a tip to Unsolved Mysteries. We appreciate so many of our viewers alerting us to an individual who resembles Gordon Collins. We have passed the information on to the people working on Gordon’s case so they can further pursue the information.
Tim buck
Gordy was one of my best friends.
I have no doubt he died in the ocean.
His poor parents chased too many crazy leads.
A.S.W.
I am trying to reach Gordon’s Father, John Collins. Would you be so kind as to pass on my email address to him. My family and I helped them off the boat. Privateisland808@hotmail.com. thank you so much.
George
Yes, this is somewhat of a crazy story. Can I interest you in a story that took place 10 years previously, that started in Stinson Beach, California. On November 12th, 1981.This involved 4 people, John Russell, Bob Dozier, Suzanne Russell, Christene Tomlin. Their destination was Tahiti. Next morning, two made it to shore.two come up missing. And I cannot find the episode. Can you tell me what is going on?
Anonymous
This is going way, way back but I’ll give it a shot. I lived in Antigua, Guatemala between 1994-96, and for several months during that time, I recall a tall, blond-headed guy with very long hair wandering the streets in Antigua. Guy was homeless. I spoke to him one day, and the only thing I remember him telling me was he stated he was from Canada. I understand Collins is from California, however if he were trying to avoid being identified or caught, I could understand him saying that. Anyway, when I saw this story in an old episode of UM, it reminded me of that person from over 20 years back.
Rob
I know this guy. He saved my Life in 1999. I was with my uncle and we were deep sea fishing in Panama, near the island of Coiba.
He went by the nickname Duke or Luke.
He LITERALLY SAVED MY LIFE on February 27, 1999.
*I have NO DOUBT that this is the same person.
Feel free to contact me.
RJ
unsolved
Hi Rob – please send us your contact information at unsolved@unsolved.com or through our app. Thank you.
Helen
FB had a pic of him said he’s in Mexico doesn’t know who he is to contact the ud embassy there. Hope this is true and it’s him. I’d love to know if it’s true and he’s finally found. This was today 3/24/2020
Marilyn ANN Hill
Iv replied to “missing & homeless” they took pic of Gordon collins, posted yesterday I think, I sent him info on here, it’s definitely him, yall hv no phone numbets bt iv seen from posts here that people iv posted ur info on gordon on “missing & homeless” hv put more proof of him in mexico, act quickly, please, please, please, before he’s gone again, help him, help his poor family, I know it’s him, I’d send pix bt ur comments space hasn’t that option.
Rosa salazar
I know where gordy stays. l have tried to explain where he’s at to unsolved. I have a close up picture l took of him in 2014. I have tried to be his friend. He is very cautious. I want this looked into. I am not sure if l leave my info.
Josh Royle
Would you be willing to speak to me? I run a facebook page to try and help find Gordy. You can contact me there: https://www.facebook.com/LetsFindGordonCollins/ or at my personal e-mail: jroyle411@gmail.com
Thank you.
Chanita
I hope he will turn up some day he was feeling like a outcast !
Frances recupero
I live in east Boston mass a day for a few years now I have noticed a homeless man with blond hair walking the streets early in the morning’s. He doesn’t wear shoes most of the time and he sleeps outside. I am told that he refuses handouts but I have never offered. You could try calling station seven in east Boston I am sure they will know who I am describing so they probably know his name.
Phyllis smith
On CDL facebook in Mexico today couple hours ago has information
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1207304489292494&id=129643173725303
Mrs.Barrie
I think Gordon is in LewisburgTennessee. I’ve seen this man walking around with no shirt , wearing a poncho and rag jeans. If this is him , he’s been in town for about 2yrs. When I seen him at first he is fairly tall, messy dirty blonde hair, and a beard. Skin looks like he’s got a tan. I took a picture of him today standing next to an intersection near a Walmart with no shirt on as if waiting to get a ride or something.
Tracey Warmack
I think I’ve seen ths man in Silver Spring, MD. I’ve seen him walking along Viers Mill Road near Aspen Hill Road, or near Glenmont area. Always walking alone. His face looks the same, he is always walking alone. His hair is the same color but Has grown into one giant single lock of hair that looks like a huge dread lock. This same man has cut his hair before. However, the last time I saw him it began growing longer again. My prayer for the family. God bless them.
Michael
Channel 11 in Atlanta Georgia ran a news story 2/2/15 on a man in Richmond Hill Georgia who calls himself Benjamin. He was found in August 31, 2004.
http://www.11alive.com/story/news/crime/2015/02/01/man-lives-for-decade-not-knowing-who-he-is/22583483/
rich
I think I saw him in vera cruz mexico in 2009 he was walking barefoot with 4-5 dogs that he cares for.he was in the market visiting someone on roof top apt. 4-5 buidlings down from the hotel campoamor towards the entrance of the market.
Josh
Hi Rich-
I run a Facebook page for Gordy. I was wondering if I could ask you a few more questions about this possible sighting. Could you email me directly at JRoyle411@gmail.com? Thank you very much!
Michele McLaughlin
I think I saw this person at a retreat over the July 26,27 ,2014 weekend at Billy Graham’s Cove in Asheville NC. He wasn’t with our group but he did fit the description, very tall and wearing his hair long. We were thinking that any church group would like him to play Jesus.
I would have the staff there find out his name . we all had to have name tags and be registered….