Collett, circa 1964

Todd Eugene Collett
Missing since January 23, 1964 from Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County, California.
Classification: Non-family Abduction

Vital Statistics

• Date Of Birth: March 30, 1960
• Age at Time of Disappearance: 3 years old
• Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 3'0 (90 cm.); 30 lbs (14 kg.)
• Distinguishing Characteristics: White male. Blonde hair; blue eyes.
• Marks, Scars: 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 it is believed he had a lazy eye and had a tendency to fall asleep randomly after the accident.
• Dentals: Dental X-rays not available
• Clothing: White sports shirt, light beige/brown courduroy pants, black loafers.

Circumstances of Disappearance
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.
On this day Todd, his twin brother Travis and a friend Greg (all about 4yrs 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 was saying 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 good English 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 this time, 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.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office
805-681-4100

Agency Case Number:
79774

NCIC Number:
M-678204686
Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Source Information:
California Department of Justice
Todd Eugene Collett