In the quiet community of Chinle, Arizona, the story of Roy Etsitty's disappearance began on a cold winter day. On the morning of December 4, 2008, the 76-year-old Native American man was released from the Chinle Adult Detention Facility at 8:25 a.m. Later that afternoon, between 3:00 and 4:00 p.m., he was seen walking in a southwesterly direction in Chinle. This would be the last confirmed sighting of Roy Etsitty.
An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, his sudden vanishing left a void in the lives of those who knew him and a lingering mystery for the authorities tasked with finding him. At the time he went missing, he was described as being 5'8' tall and weighing approximately 150 pounds, with gray hair and brown eyes.
Roy Etsitty had distinct physical characteristics that his family hoped would aid in his identification. Notably, his right index finger was missing, and he had a skin graft on his right forearm from a previous injury. He also had scars on the top of his head. On the day he disappeared, he was wearing a dark-colored cap, a black jacket, a blue and yellow flannel shirt, and brown shoes. Concern for his well-being was heightened by the fact that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, a condition that could have left him disoriented and vulnerable.
Despite the passage of years, the search for answers in Roy Etsitty's case continues. His case was officially reported to the Navajo Nation Police Department on October 27, 2010, and he has been entered into the National Crime Information Center. The Navajo Nation Police Department's Chinle District is the primary investigating agency. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain sparse, with few details available to the public. The lack of information has made the investigation challenging, leaving his family and community with unanswered questions. The case of Roy Etsitty serves as a somber reminder of the many unresolved missing persons cases within the Navajo Nation and the enduring hope for closure.Last Seen: Dec 4, 2008
