Missing
Gus Henry Hoffman Jr.
Hoffman, approximately 1978; Hoffman's motorcycle
Date and time person was reported missing : 07/04/1978
Missing location (approx) :
San Jose, California
Missing classification : Endangered Missing
Gender : Male
Ethnicity :
White
DOB : 01/04/1958 (63)
Age at the time of disappearance: 20 years old
Height / Weight : 5'8, 120 pounds
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: Caucasian male. Brown hair, brown eyes. Hoffman's nickname is Gussie, and he may use the first name Augustine.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Hoffman was last seen in San Jose, California on July 4, 1978. He did not habitually ride motorcycles, but he enjoyed restoring vintAge at the time of disappearance: ones. He had purchased a motorcycle in October 1977 and spent eight months restoring it. He stated he planned to sell it when he was done.
On the day of his disappearance, he finished restoring the motorcycle, showed it to his brother, then went for a ride on it. He never returned home and has never been heard from again, and his motorcycle was never found. It's described as a red 1966 Harley Davidson Sportster model with a hard-tail frame, a springer front end, California license plates, chrome trim and yellow flames on the gas tank. A photo of the restored motorcycle is posted with this case summary.
Hoffman's mother attempted to file a missing persons report when he did not return home, but in accordance with accepted policy at the time, authorities refused to accept the report until 48 hours had passed. In the meantime, Hoffman's mother canvassed the neighborhood, asking everyone if they had seen her son.
One witness reported seeing Hoffman with two other men riding motorcycles. The men were arguing with Hoffman and threatened him with chains, and when he drove away on his motorcycle they followed him. The men were later identified as members of a local motorcycle gang.
In 1988, Michael Allen Hodges, Richard Morris Dollar and John Michael "Slug" Stelle were charged with Hoffman's murder. Authorities believe Hoffman was tortured, sodomized and kicked to death by members of a local motorcycle gang in a garAge at the time of disappearance: in San Jose, and his motorcycle was stolen.
Witnesses initially refused to cooperate with the investigation out of fear of reprisal, which is why it took a decade for charges to be brought against the men. All three defendants were convicted of Hoffman's murder in 1990 and sentenced to life in prison.
Hoffman's remains have never been found, but foul play is suspected in his case due to the circumstances involved.
Other information and links : ncy
San Jose Police Department
408-227-4141
September 2021 updates and sources
The Doe Network
The San Jose Mercury News
The Dayton Daily News
The St. Paul Pioneer Press
The Long Beach Press-Telegram
The San Francisco Chronicle
A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are not known. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2�5% of missing children in Europe.
By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends.
Several organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and imAge at the time of disappearance: s of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
