Right: Age-progressed by NCMEC to 54 years
Right: Age-progressed by NCMEC to 54 years
Name: Todd Eugene Collett
Case Classification: Non-Family Abduction
Missing Since: January 23, 1964
Location Last Seen: Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California
Date of Birth: March 30, 1960
Age: 3 yrs old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 3'0"
Weight: 30 lbs
Hair Color: Blonde
Eye Color: Blue
Nickname/Alias: Unknown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Dimple in his left cheek, A big scar that went from this upper chest to his stomach due to a surgery following an accident, A car had apparently run over him in a driveway, The car also ran over his head and he had a lazy eye and had a tendency to fall asleep randomly after the accident
Dentals: Not Available
Fingerprints: Not Available
DNA: Available
Clothing: White sports shirt, Light beige/brown corduroy pants, Black loafers
Jewelry: None
Additional Personal Items: Unknown
Todd Collett was last seen on January 23, 1964, near his home in the San Marcos subdivision of Groleta, four miles north of Santa Barbara. Todd, his twin brother Travis, and a friend Greg (all about 4 years old) were playing at the corner of Hollister Road and Turnpike Road in Santa Barbara. There were shopping centers being constructed and the boys knew they weren't to cross the street and enter the construction site. However, Todd headed toward the dirt embankments. Greg followed and Travis stayed back.
About twenty minutes had gone by when Greg's mother saw her son across the street. She crossed the street to get her son and brought him back home. When she returned home, she asked where Todd was. Greg said something about a bulldozer and a fire. Greg indicated that Todd might have gone over the Turnpike overpass. The demolition fires burned for four hours before they were extinguished and all wells and septic systems were combed for days. Dogs picked up Todd's scent in the neighborhood around the railroad tracks and did indicate that Todd had traveled over the Turnpike overpass.
Neighbors reported a bearded stranger in the area within the same time frame that Todd disappeared. He had a black beard, light skin and green eyes. He was wearing a navy blue blazer with an insignia, "New Zealand" on the front. Witnesses said he spoke English well but had an accent. The witnesses said that their children were playing in the front yard when they spotted the man walking up to the children. He approached the door asking for directions to the new houses. At the time of his disappearance, the neighborhood Todd lived in and the ones surrounding it were brand new. Todd's neighborhood was completely surrounded by new homes being constructed, as well as a big shopping center across the street. The women pointed him to the direction that Todd was last seen. The man made the women so uneasy that they brought their children indoors. They thought nothing of the incident until they later heard of Todd's disappearance. Foul play is suspected.
Agency Name: Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office
Agency Contact Person: Lt. Gary Kitzman
Agency Phone Number: 805-681-4100
Agency E-Mail: N/A
Agency Case Number: 79774
NamUs Case Number: 4545
NCIC Case Number: M678204686
NCMEC Case Number: 1152008
Added: Prior to 2011; Last Updated: 01/06/2024 - By: hb
Questions or comments? Please contact appropriate member of the Area Team
** Listed information is from the time of disappearance.
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