Wynn Lindsey -- May Be Missing on Hawaii's Puu Ohia Trail

Author: Shane Lambert
Original Time of Writing: January 3rd, 2021; updated February 23rd, 2021
All articles are subject to editing after the original posting.

Missing person: Wynn J K Lindsey

Last-seen date: April 1st, 2015
Last-seen location: Honolulu, Hawaii, I believe near Ernest Street and Lunalilo Street

Hikers that are planning to visit the Puu Ohia Trail could take a moment to review the case details of missing person Wynn Lindsey. This individual went missing in 2015 and his car, a 1999 Toyota Corolla, was found parked near this trail on Tantalus Drive. There's some question as to whether he entered the trail network or not.

In updating this article, I exchanged messages with the moderator of the Facebook group that profiles Wynn's disappearance. I deem such people to be knowledgeable of events, especially when they share a last name with the missing person. This individual, Maile Lindsey, offered the following pointers to add to this article:

• 3 sets of police dogs went through the area and they were not able to pick up a scent.
• Wynn had a flatscreen TV with him in the car when he left his house. Police found it placed in the front of the vehicle. Apparently, he was in the process of moving or finding a fixed address.
• The police found his car in the area when they responded to a robbery in the vicinity of where the car was parked.
• Wynn Lindsey knew sign language but was not deaf himself.

Ethnicity/Race: Caucasian with a swarthy complexion
Sex: Male
Age at time of disappearance: 44 years old

According to All Trails: "Pu'u Ohia (Mount Tantalus) is a 1.4 kilometer heavily trafficked out and back trail located near Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii that features beautiful wild flowers and is good for all skill levels. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round."

The trail was part of a large network of trails in the area. At 6'0" and 190 pounds, Lindsey appeared to be a fit individual, something Maile Lindsey confirmed as true. Accordingly, the search area would have to be large for this man.

If he went into the trail network with intentions of harming himself, then he would have been capable of covering a lot of ground before fatiguing. On the matter of possible suicide, Wynn Lindsey has been described as "emotionally distraught" (NamUs) at the time of his disappearance. However, in all cases like this, it's important to be open-minded to alternative scenarios.

His vehicle was a 1999 Toyota Corolla and it was found near the Puu Ohia Trail. The driver's side door was open when found. Inside the car were keys, his wallet, and his cellular.

NamUs # and Link: #MP68842

That the driver's side door was left open is interesting, I think. It may have been the "call for help" that suicidal people are often known to make in the time frame before they act. This "call for help" is any action a depressed and/or suicidal person makes that might call attention to the fact that something isn't right. Deliberately leaving a car door open as you walk away from it might fit the bill.

However, it's also interesting that the police dogs were not able to pick up his scent. It makes you wonder if his car was taken there by someone else.

Certainly, this is a confusing case as your mind goes in separate ways at separate times. What's most fair to say is that the trail network that his vehicle was found near still has to be considered ground zero, in my opinion.

Hair: black but bald on the crown

Eye color: green
Height and weight at the time of disappearance: 6'0" and 190 pounds

Born: Waianae, Hawaii

High School: Waianae High School, class of 1989

Occupation: maintenance worker at Hickam

Below is news involving Lindsey just before he disappeared. It appears to be unrelated to his disappearance but contains information about him.

Wed, Mar 4, 2015 – O20 · Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Honolulu, Hawaii) · Newspapers.com