Tom Starkel disappeared from Palmdale, California on December 5, 1979, after leaving his girlfriend's home at 10:00 p.m. His dark green Pontiac Firebird with blue Nevada plates was later found being driven into California from Nevada two weeks later. Craig Moore was driving the car, and Starkel's jacket was in the trunk. A handgun, recently fired, was discovered under the driver's seat. Moore was arrested, but released for lack of evidence, though he remains the prime suspect in the case.

Starkel, a Palmdale High School graduate, was known to attend the First Assembly of God Church, where his grandfather served as pastor. He was reported missing by his mother three days after he was last seen, but by then, she had cleaned his apartment and erased any evidence that might have been there.

Authorities believe Starkel did return to his apartment after leaving his girlfriend's house, but he has not been heard from since. His disappearance remains unsolved, with no new leads in recent years.