Joshua Tree National Park, located in southeastern California, is renowned for its stark beauty and intriguing history. From its mining-era origins to the shadows of Charles Manson and Gram Parsons, the park’s past is a compelling mix of allure and peril.
Adding to its mystique are the unsettling stories of those who have vanished within its borders, some never to be seen again. This article explores ten tragic accounts of individuals who mysteriously disappeared in Joshua Tree National Park.
Robert Dykins Cook
Robert Dykins Cook, a 41-year-old from San Diego, was reported missing by his family on October 31, 1986. Park rangers were notified on November 8, and Cook’s body was discovered south of Sullivan Road on November 12 by a San Bernardino County Sheriff’s helicopter team. Additional items belonging to Cook were found in the Morongo Basin area.
His death, attributed to gunshot wounds, was ruled a suicide. Cook, a nuclear physicist and head of safety and security for the Naval Ocean Systems Center with top-secret clearance, played a crucial role in advancing the Navy’s technological capabilities. Officials stated they did not suspect foul play.
Michael John O’Conner
Michael John O’Conner, a 46-year-old Chrysler Corporation executive, was reported missing on April 30, 2013, after purchasing an entry pass at the Cottonwood Springs Visitor Center. His vehicle was found on May 2, 2013, at a trailhead. He was registered at a hotel in Indian Wells for a Chrysler Corp. seminar but never returned home on May 1, prompting his wife to contact law enforcement.
Search teams, including scent dogs and a helicopter, were deployed. Michael John O’Conner was found by park rangers on May 5, 2013. He died of heart failure brought on by extreme weather. An autopsy confirmed an irregular heartbeat due to an enlarged heart. He was believed to have collapsed while hiking in the Cottonwood area.
Joseph DiMento
On June 18, 1998, Joseph DiMento, in his 60s and a retired IBM repairman, left his home after an argument with his wife, taking only his driver’s license and $200. His wife, Uraiwan DiMento, reported him missing when she found his wallet in their front yard. Detective Darrell Hardin speculated that DiMento may have started a new life elsewhere.
In 1999, Uraiwan offered a $100,000 reward for information. The argument before Joseph’s disappearance was about his desire to hike to a riverbed after a camping trip in Joshua Tree despite the 100-degree weather. On October 28, 2002, Boy Scouts found human remains in the park, later identified as DiMento. Uraiwan DiMento was a suspect in his death but was never convicted.
Eric Sears
Seventeen-year-old Eric Sears was last seen by a hiking companion in July 2004 at the Jumbo Rocks Campground. An extensive search was conducted by around 100 National Park Service rescue team members and volunteers, using foot patrols, horseback, and helicopters.
Despite finding some tracks and scent, the terrain posed challenges. Homicide investigators became involved and searched the home of Sears’s hiking companion. On July 23, 2004, Sears’s decomposed body was found approximately 1.5 miles from the campsite. An autopsy revealed toxins from jimson weed in his brain tissue, though the exact cause of death remained undetermined.
June Cox and Lucy Trichine
In May 1995, the disappearance of June Cox, 66, and Lucy Trichine, 73, from Yucca Valley sparked concern when they didn’t return from a morning walk. Their vehicle was found inside Joshua Tree National Park, prompting a search.
A search and rescue team with a canine unit was deployed. Trichine had a connection to threatening letters allegedly written by Dr. Carl Coppolino in 1962, aimed at coercing her departure from Riverview Hospital. Coppolino, a paroled murderer, was presumably alive when the women disappeared.
William Michael Ewasko
In June 2010, the disappearance of 65-year-old William Michael Ewasko prompted a large search. Ewasko was reported missing by his girlfriend after a solo hike. His rented Chrysler Sebring was found on Keys View Road.
Despite an 11-day search, he remained missing. In 2022, hikers found Ewasko’s remains near the Panorama and Burro trails, close to the park’s entrance. His wallet was recovered nearby. The location was approximately one mile from the main road, adding to the mystery.
Nola Pauline Taylor
On September 8, 2014, Nola Pauline Taylor, was on her way from the Hi-Desert Medical Center to her quilting class, when she disappeared. Her son reported her missing, prompting a search by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
Four days later, her vehicle was found disabled on a private road within Joshua Tree National Park. A search operation was launched, and Taylor’s remains were found on September 21, 2014, approximately one-half mile south of Desert Quail Drive and Baseline Road. Her death was attributed to her attempt to seek help after her vehicle became stuck.
Henry Strange
The death of 54-year-old Henry Strange in 2018 led to an investigation by Joshua Tree Park rangers and Riverside County homicide detectives, later transferred to the Murrieta Police Department. Two individuals were arrested but later released.
Curtis Lee Krueger, was charged with Strange’s murder. Strange suffered multiple skull fractures, and the coroner ruled his death as homicidal violence. Evidence implicated Krueger and his girlfriend, Ashlie Stapp, who were arrested after wiretapped conversations revealed details of the murder. Stange was believed to have been killed in his garage before being buried in Joshua Tree National Park.
Marty Kenney
The disappearance of 43-year-old Marty Kenney on February 26, 2019, sparked concern. Friends found his vehicle in the Pine City backcountry parking lot and notified park rangers on February 28, 2019. Personal items were found at his campsite.
Kenney’s remains were found the next day in the Pine City area. Despite investigations, many details surrounding Kenney’s disappearance, including his cause of death, remain a mystery.
Trammell Evans
Trammell Evans, 25, was last seen on a solo hike in Joshua Tree National Park’s Black Rock Canyon Campground area on April 30, 2023. Concerns arose when he failed to arrive at his planned destination. A search began on May 5, 2023.
On January 25, 2024, skeletal remains were found by park staff. These were later confirmed to belong to Trammell. The cause of Trammell’s death was undetermined. It was later revealed that Trammell had passed away due to complications related to alcohol withdrawal.
The stories of those who disappeared or died in Joshua Tree National Park serve as somber reminders of the park’s unpredictable nature. These tragic events underscore the need for visitors to respect the environment, prepare adequately, and stay aware of the inherent risks when exploring this unique and beautiful, yet sometimes treacherous, landscape.
What are your thoughts on these mysterious disappearances? Leave your comment below!
