Missing Person Commentary

Author: Shane Lambert Original time of writing: April 7th, 2021 Introduction to Missing Trail Hikers I have been looking at both NamUs and Canada's Missing databases for missing people for the last couple of weeks. In particular, I have been interested in missing person cases where a hiking trail is central to the disappearance. The tag I've associated with all blog posts at this site that have to do a trail and/or a missing hiker is "trail hiking series."  You can find this hashtag at the end of this blog post. By clicking on it, you will bring up all the related articles. When I first thought of the "trail hiking series," admittedly, I wanted to look at about 40 cases that involved trails and/or hiking. However, I have fallen short of that for the time being. Nonetheless, even in a small sample space of cases, I've been able to recognize a couple of distinct patterns with missing people whose case files are associated with nature trails and/or hiking. ...

Paraphrased details from government source** :  "Update: Investigation discovered that subject purchased items that appeared to be camping related and then was dropped off near the Wagonhammer RV park and hiking trails in Lemhi County, Idaho. This occurred around the beginning of October, 2019.  Original: Went to Europe and it is unknown if he ever returned to the United States, he told the reporting party he wasn't coming back to Arkansas but would either move to California or Colorado but hasn't been communicated with since September 30th." Missing Person : Bobby Lee Rodriguez Last-contact date : September 30th, 2019 The area where the MP was last seen : North Fork, Idaho Link to government source : NamUs MP  VITAL DETAILS Ethnicity : Hispanic/Latino Sex : Male Age at time of disappearance: 25 years old Birthdate : Bobby Lee Rodriguez was born between September 31st, 1993, and September 30th, 1994 based on his reported age at the last date of reported c...

Paraphrased details from government source** :  Joseph Lee Wood Jr., a missing New York City book editor, was last seen hiking in Mt. Rainier National Park. He was thought to have been last seen near Comet Falls at about 3-4pm on July 8th, 1999. The MP's rental vehicle was recovered near the National Park Inn, at Longmire. This individual had a heart condition, when he was last seen he was only wearing light clothing, he had no survival gear, no coat, no food, and no water. Missing Person : Joseph Lee Wood Jr. Last-contact date : July 8th, 1999 (Thursday), possibly between 3-4pm The area where the MP was last seen : Mount Rainier National Park, Washington near Comet Falls Link to government source : NamUs MP  VITAL DETAILS Ethnicity : Black Sex : Male Age at time of disappearance: 34 years old Birthdate : Joseph Lee Wood Jr. was born between July 9th, 1964, and July 8th, 1965 based on his reported age at the last date of reported contact. Hair : Black, had a beard Eye...

Paraphrased details from government source** :  "Left home in Salem, OR for camping/hiking trip and never returned. Did not take medications for mental and medical problems. Vehicle found at National Forest trailhead to Lake Angeline. Extensive search operation was unproductive. Vehicle left at trailhead. Impounded by US Forest Service" Missing Person : William David Shannon Last-contact date : September 4th, 1995 (this was Labor Day that year) The area where the MP was last seen : Skykomish, Washington Link to government source : NamUs MP  VITAL DETAILS Ethnicity : Caucasian Sex : Male Age at time of disappearance: 47 years old Birthdate : William David Shannon was born between September 5th, 1947, and September 4th, 1948 based on his reported age at the last date of reported contact. Hair : Brown Eyes : Blue Scar : None known Height/weight : 6'4" and 180 pounds BMI *: William David Shannon was in the normal range for BMI. No photo found : If a ph...

Paraphrased details from government source** :  Richard went hiking alone on Saturday, July 5th, 2014 at approximately 6:30am at the Kamaileuna Ridge Trail near his home. He called his mother at 11:30 am to say he was coming down. He has not been seen or heard from since. From his Facebook profile. Missing Person : Richard Kalani Vierra Last-contact date : July 5th, 2014 at about 11:28am The area where the MP was last seen : Waianae, Hawaii at Kaimaile Mountain trail near Maiu'u Entrance Link to government source : NamUs MP  VITAL DETAILS Ethnicity : White or Caucasian Sex : Male Age at time of disappearance: 15 years old Birthdate : Richard Kalani Vierra was born between July 6th, 1998, and July 5th, 1999 based on his reported age at the last date of reported contact. Hair : Brown Eyes : Brown Scar : None known Height/weight : 5'5" and 120 pounds BMI *: Richard Kalani Vierra was in the normal range for BMI. Tattoos : Richard Kalani Vierra did not have any...

Paraphrased details from government source** :   Jesse Hoover was last seen on May 20, 1983 at the Baxter State Park Headquarters. Hoover traveled to Maine from Texas to hike the Appalachian Trail. She had no special equipment or knowledge to aid her while hiking. Jesse was reported missing on July 11, 1983 by her sister. Photo credit: Picture taken from Maine State Police website.  Cropped and enhanced by RSS Flanagan on 11/21/2011. Missing Person : Jessie Hoover Last-contact date : May 20th, 1983 The area where the MP was last seen : Millinocket, Maine Link to government source : NamUs MP  VITAL DETAILS Ethnicity : White/Caucasian Sex : Female Age at time of disappearance: 53 years old Birthdate : June 13th, 1929 Hair : Gray or partially gray Eyes : Blue Scar : None listed Height/weight : 5'8" and 240 to 250 pounds BMI *: This individual was obese by BMI standards at the time of her disappearance. Tattoos : Jessie Hoover did not have any tattoos as...

Paraphrased details from government source** :  Rosemary Kunst was last seen August 18th, 2000 near Spirit Lake's Marble Mountain Wilderness Area, Klamath National Forest in California. Kunst, an avid hiker, had gone off on a hike by herself carrying only a journal, a sandwich, and a bag of trail mix. It is believed that Kunst may have gotten lost or injured in the heavy-forest terrain. A tuft of her hair was found during a search, but no other clues were ever found. This hair was found caught in some heavy brush south of Spirit Lake. Missing Person : Rosemary Theresa Kunst Last-contact date : August 18th, 2000 The area where the MP was last seen : Siskiyou, California at the south end of Spirit Lake walking toward a ridge Link to government source : NamUs MP  VITAL DETAILS Ethnicity : White/Caucasian Sex : Female Age at time of disappearance: 70 years old Birthdate : November 1st, 1929 Hair : Gray, partly gray, graying Eyes : Hazel Scar : Surgical scars Heigh...

Paraphrased details from government source** :  Carol was last heard from when she canceled plans with a friend on September 27th, 2017 or September 26th, 2017 (sources vary). Her red 2000 Ford Ranger pickup truck was located at the Putvin Trailhead off Forest Service Road 2500 in Mason County, Washington on October 11th, 2017. The Mason County Sheriff’s Office conducted a search-and-rescue operation with tracking dogs in the Olympic National Forest near Lena Lake in an effort to find her, but no trace of her was found. Ferguson is known to keep to herself. She is an avid hiker and frequently hikes in Olympic National Park. She may also be traveling though Oregon. Missing Person : Carol Marlene Ferguson Last-contact date : September 27th, 2017 or September 26th, 2017 (sources vary) The area where the MP was last seen : Bremerton, Washington Link to government source : NamUs MP  VITAL DETAILS Ethnicity : White or Caucasian Sex : Female Age at time of disappearance: ...

Paraphrased details from government source** :  David was last seen leaving for a two-and-a-half-day hiking trip in Sedona, Arizona on May 19th, 1998. David was an experienced hiker employed by the Sedona Forest Service. David's vehicle was found abandoned at the Vultee Arch Trail in Sedona, AZ. Mr. Miller was an experienced hiker and was a seasonal employee with the United States Forestry Service. Missing Person : David Barclay Miller Last-contact date : May 19th, 1998 (Tuesday) The area where the MP was last seen : Sedona, Arizona Link to government source : NamUs MP  VITAL DETAILS Ethnicity : Caucasian Sex : Male Age at time of disappearance: 22 years old Birthdate : July 6th, 1975 Hair : Sandy Eyes : Blue and may be wearing glasses or contact lenses Scar : None known Height/weight : 5'11" to 6'1" and 160 to 170 pounds BMI *: David Barclay Miller was in the normal range for BMI. Tattoos : David Barclay Miller did not have any tattoos associat...

Paraphrased details from government source** :  Wayne Wikel was on a camping trip. He failed to return from it. He was in the Eagle Creek area off of trail #401. He was an experienced hiker/outdoorsman/fisherman. His vehicle was found at the Eagle Creek trailhead. Missing Person : Wayne Falconer Wikel Last-contact date : June 14th, 1992 The area where the MP was last seen : Near Hood River, Oregon Link to government source : NamUs MP  VITAL DETAILS Ethnicity : Caucasian Sex : Male Age at time of disappearance: 48 years old Birthdate : Wayne Falconer Wikel was born between June 15th, 1943, and June 14th, 1944 based on his reported age at the last date of reported contact. Hair : Brown Eyes : Hazel Scar : Height/weight : 6'0" and 155 pounds BMI *: Wayne Falconer Wikel was in the normal range for BMI. No photo found : If a photo can't be found, rely on BMI, height, weight, ethnicity, and other physical features to describe or picture the person.  Tattoos : Wayn...

This article is part of a series that looks at missing trail hikers. Click the "trail hiking series" hashtag at the end of this blog to see all thematically related articles. Paraphrased Details from NamUs** :  Michael August Cannon left his family's Kahala home in Hawaii early Christmas morning in 1966. He left a note stating that he planned to hike on Tantalus. His empty car was found at the top of Tantalus the next morning. The resulting search and rescue mission, which at the time was the largest and most expensive ever in Hawaii, failed to find Michael. However, his vehicle was found at Tantalus trailhead the next morning. This vehicle had his jacket in it and five dollars. The doors were locked. Missing Person : Michael August Cannon Last-contact date : December 25th, 1966 -- left a note in the morning, he may have been seen on the Tantalus Trail at about 5pm later that day (HSB Jan 3 1967 A-1A), however, I considered sightings of this missing person to be tenuou...