Missing
Matthew Chase Whitmer
Whitmer, approximately 2007
Date and time person was reported missing : 11/15/2007
Missing location (approx) :
Pinole, California
Missing classification : Lost/Injured Missing
Gender : Male
Ethnicity :
White
DOB : 05/28/1987 (34)
Age at the time of disappearance: 20 years old
Height / Weight : 6'1, 160 pounds
Medical conditions : Whitmer has a history of suicide attempts and psychiatric hospitalizations, beginning when he was twelve years old. He was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, a mood disorder with psychotic features, and he may hear voices as a result of his condition. He wasn't taking any psychotropic medications at the time of his disappearance, however.
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: Caucasian male. Brown hair, hazel eyes. Whitmer's nickname is Mattie. He can speak some Japanese as well as English.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Whitmer was last seen playing video games at his home in Pinole, California at 1:30 a.m. on November 15, 2007. Authorities believe he jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge. His gold 1996 Toyota Camry was found in the parking lot near the bridge walkway, with his wallet and identification inside the car and wet clothes in the trunk.
Two witnesses saw a young Caucasian man jumping into the water at 6:25 a.m. Whitmer had looked up directions to the bridge on his computer, and also checked online to see whether there were any barriers in place. The last contact with him was a text messAge at the time of disappearance: he sent to a friend at 6:23 a.m., saying "Peace out."
The Coast Guard was summoned and began searching within five minutes of the jump, but his body was never found.
Whitmer's mother stated she first realized her son had problems when he attempted suicide at the Age at the time of disappearance: of twelve and had to be hospitalized for two weeks. After he was stabilized and placed on medication, he was enrolled first in a special education program at his old school, then in the Marchus School, a school for emotionally disturbed children. He spent part of his high school years on homebound instruction, then re-enrolled in a mainstream classroom for his senior year.
Throughout his school years, Whitmer remained active in sports, and at Age at the time of disappearance: sixteen he made a three-week trip to Ireland, England and Wales with People to People, a cultural exchange program. He met all the requirements for high school graduation by tenth grade, but elected to stay in high school and take college courses at night.
At the time of his disappearance, he had discontinued his medication and was studying to become a massAge at the time of disappearance: therapist. He was very open with his family about the feelings he had as a result of his mental illness, and had spoken of suicide before.
Since his presumed death, Whitmer's mother has advocated for the construction of a barricade on the Golden Gate Bridge to prevent suicides.
Other information and links : ncy
Pinole Police Department
510-724-8950
September 2021 updates and sources
California Attorney General's Office
Time Magazine
Golden Gate Bridge Suicides
The Contra Costa Times Obituaries
The Bridge - Suicide on the Golden Gate Bridge
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.
Concord Patch
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
