On a cold evening in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, 28-year-old Yiear James Samuel West finished his shift as a grill cook and began a journey that would end in mystery. It was December 9, 2016, and what started as a routine commute on foot from the Outback Steakhouse in Wilkes-Barre Township would become the last time he was ever seen. A devoted father of two, West was described by friends and family as a hardworking and dependable man who would never have voluntarily left his children. At the time of his disappearance, he stood approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighed around 220 pounds, and had distinctive shoulder-length dreadlocks and a goatee. His attire that evening was his work uniform: black pinstriped chef pants, black Croc shoes with black socks, a blue sweatshirt, and a black skullcap. He also had several noticeable features, including a scar under his right eye and burn marks on both forearms, a testament to his years working over hot grills.
After clocking out of work at about 4:30 p.m., West declined a ride from a coworker, opting to take his usual two-mile walk home. His path took him first to a Wegmans supermarket, where surveillance footage captured him making a purchase around 5:00 p.m. He then continued his walk, and at approximately 6:40 p.m., he was seen on camera again at the Corner News convenience store on Coal Street. There, he withdrew $200 from an ATM, appearing calm and unhurried in the footage. This was the last confirmed sighting of Yiear West. He never made it home to pick up his children for a scheduled visit, and his mother, Lisa Patterson, reported him missing later that night when her calls to his phone went unanswered. The $200 withdrawal was his last financial transaction.
In the years following his disappearance, the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department has investigated several theories, but none have led to a resolution. Detectives interviewed numerous witnesses, reviewed surveillance footage from multiple locations, and analyzed his phone and bank records. One theory suggests he may have been a target for robbery after withdrawing cash, though no evidence of a confrontation has ever surfaced. Another line of inquiry explored potential involvement from an ex-partner who had reportedly been harassing him, leading West to change his phone. However, no proof has connected anyone to his disappearance. The possibility of a voluntary disappearance is strongly refuted by his family, who remain adamant that he would never abandon his beloved children. His mother firmly believes he was a victim of foul play, stating, 'He got murdered. He's murdered. My son is gone. I just want closure.” Despite ongoing efforts and public appeals for information, the case of Yiear West remains unsolved, leaving his family with unanswered questions and a void that only the truth can fill.Last Seen: Dec 9, 2016
