Into the Wild. Gone Without a Trace.
Case Archive: 83 files

Unresolved Wilderness Archive

People vanish.
Their stories remain.

An independent case archive preserving the names, faces and last-known paths of people missing from America’s wild places.

83 case files currently held in the archive.

Archive Ledger · Active

Total documented disappearances

83

Each entry represents a person who entered the wilderness and never returned.

File 01 · Longest Unresolved

The Disappearance of Joseph B. Labonte Jr. at Baxter State Park

Missing since 11/08/1938

Missing for 88 years and 2 months

Last known: South Branch Pond area, Baxter State Park, Piscataquis County, Maine, USA

File 02 · Most Recent

Joel Thomazin - Missing From Hetch Hetchy Area

Disappeared on 6th September 2021

Missing for 5 years and 1 month

Last known: Lake Eleanor Rd, California 95321, USA

Registry ledger

Inside the archive

A factual overview of the records currently preserved by Vanished.

Total cases logged 83 Each entry is a missing person in wild terrain.
States with recorded disappearances 6 The wilderness is not confined to one region.
Parks / regions tracked 30 Clusters often form around familiar names.
Cases with mapped coordinates 83 These appear on the map below.
Cases without a known date 1 Some stories arrive incomplete.
Faces in the files

The open case wall

Every photograph belongs to a person whose story deserves to remain visible.

John Gunn Missing From Yosemite Found 5 Weeks Later

John Gunn Missing From Yosemite Found 5 Weeks Later

Missing since 28th July 1967

9017 Village Dr, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389, USA

Open case file →
Walter Reinhard Missing From White Wolf, Yosemite National Park

Walter Reinhard Missing From White Wolf, Yosemite National Park

Missing since September 19th 2002

White Wolf Rd, TUOLUMNE MEADOWS, CA 95389, USA

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Thelma Pauline Melton was with two friends hiking when she crested a hill on the trail and vanished

Thelma Pauline Melton was with two friends hiking when she crested a hill on the trail and vanished

Missing since 25th September 1981

FHFC+4F Bryson City, NC, USA

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Charles Robert Rutherford Missing From Presque Isle

Charles Robert Rutherford Missing From Presque Isle

Missing since 12th August 2005

1 Peter White Dr, Marquette, MI 49855, USA

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Trenny Gibson vanished whilst on a school trip with 40 students

Trenny Gibson vanished whilst on a school trip with 40 students

Missing since 8th October 1976

Forney Ridge Trail Trailhead, Clingmans Dome Trail, Bryson City, NC 28713, USA

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Gilbert Mark Gilman Missing In Staircase Olympic National Park

Gilbert Mark Gilman Missing In Staircase Olympic National Park

Missing since 26th June 2006

Staircase Ranger Station, Hoodsport, WA, USA

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Dennis Martin vanished in the space of 3 minuets. Never to be seen again.

Dennis Martin vanished in the space of 3 minuets. Never to be seen again.

Missing since 14th June 1969

Spence Field, North Carolina 28771, USA

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Alfred Nicholas Kochendorfer Vanished From Butte

Alfred Nicholas Kochendorfer Vanished From Butte

Missing since 27th October 2000

18748-18886 Walling Rd, Palmer, AK 99645, USA

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Brandon Swanson vanished in May 2008. His last words were oh shit.

Brandon Swanson vanished in May 2008. His last words were oh shit.

Missing since 14th May 2008

JVGH+2Q, Porter, MN 56280, USA

Open case file →
The Disappearance and Death of Jacob Gray in Olympic National Park

The Disappearance and Death of Jacob Gray in Olympic National Park

Missing since 05/04/2017

Sol Duc Hot Springs Road

Open case file →
Dikran Knadjian Missing From Curry Village Yosemite

Dikran Knadjian Missing From Curry Village Yosemite

Missing since 24th July 1972

Half Dome Village, Yosemite Valley, CA 95389, USA

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Jack Forest Thomas Missing From Fern Falls Area

Jack Forest Thomas Missing From Fern Falls Area

Missing since 15th June 2016

Idaho Centennial Trail, United States

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Fred Werm Comstock Missing From Vogelsang High Sierra Camp

Fred Werm Comstock Missing From Vogelsang High Sierra Camp

Missing since 1st September 1975

Vogelsang High Sierra Camp, YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, CA, USA

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George Penca - Vanished From Yosemite National Park

George Penca - Vanished From Yosemite National Park

Missing since 17th June 2011

Upper Yosemite Falls, California 95389, USA

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Stacy Ann Arras Vanished In Yosemite

Stacy Ann Arras Vanished In Yosemite

Missing since 17th July 1981

California, USA

Open case file →
Paula Jean Welden vanished hiking The Long Trail in December 1946

Paula Jean Welden vanished hiking The Long Trail in December 1946

Missing since 1st December 1946

7429+7P, Fayston, VT, USA

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Frances Brown Vanished From Kitseguecla Lake Rd

Frances Brown Vanished From Kitseguecla Lake Rd

Missing since 14th of October 2017

Kitseguecla Lake Rd, British Columbia V0J, Canada

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Jody Roberts vanished and turned up 12 years later in Alaska

Jody Roberts vanished and turned up 12 years later in Alaska

1988 Dock St, Tacoma, WA 98402, USA

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Bryce Florian Disappeared From Shi Shi Beach Trail

Bryce Florian Disappeared From Shi Shi Beach Trail

Missing since 9th April 1995

Shi Shi Beach Rd, Clallam Bay, WA 98326, USA

Open case file →
Charles McCullar - Missing At Crater Lake National Park

Charles McCullar - Missing At Crater Lake National Park

Missing since 1st February 1975

Pacific Crest Nat'l Scenic Trl, United States

Open case file →
Incoming tray

Recently filed

The latest records added to the archive desk.

The Disappearance of Kenneth Eugene Miller Near Crater Lake

Missing since 1966

Last known: Crater Lake National Park area, Klamath County, Oregon, USA

The Disappearance of Joseph B. Labonte Jr. at Baxter State Park

Missing since 11/08/1938

Last known: South Branch Pond area, Baxter State Park, Piscataquis County, Maine, USA

The Disappearance of Paul “Buddy” Jepson Jr.

Missing since 12/10/1950

Last known: Bennington, Bennington County, Vermont, USA

The Disappearance and Death of Jacob Gray in Olympic National Park

Missing since 05/04/2017

Last known: Sol Duc Hot Springs Road

The Disappearance of Thomas Messick: Veteran Hunter Vanishes in New York's Adirondacks

Missing since 15/11/2015

Last known: Lily Pond area, Lake George Wild Forest, near Brant Lake, Horicon, Warren County, New York

The Disappearance of Gerry Largay: Lost on Maine’s Appalachian Trail

Missing since 22/07/2013

Last known: Appalachian Trail, Franklin County, Maine, USA

Charles Robert Rutherford Missing From Presque Isle

Missing since 12th August 2005

Last known: 1 Peter White Dr, Marquette, MI 49855, USA

Cian McLaughlin vanished whilst out on a hike near Delta Lake

Missing since 12th June 2021

Last known: Garnet Canyon Trail

Filing cabinet

Parks and regions

Open a drawer to browse recurring locations across the archive.

Last-known locations

The case map

Explore the places where each documented trail went quiet.

Every point represents a person who entered the wilderness and never came home.