On a summer day, August 3, 1963, four-year-old Bobby Panknin was on a family camping trip at the now-defunct Deep Lake Resort in Stevens County, Washington. He and two of his older brothers, ages six and ten, were hiking with their mother along a logging road near their campsite. During the walk, one of the brothers heard what he thought sounded like a 'Laughing Brook' from a children's story and left the road to investigate the small creek.
Their mother followed him, instructing the six-year-old to remain on the road with Bobby. However, the other brother also decided to follow, leaving young Bobby alone on the trail for a few minutes. When his mother and brothers returned, only a short time later and having only been about 100 to 150 feet away, Bobby was gone.
An extensive search was launched immediately, growing to become what was possibly the largest in Stevens County's history, with thousands of volunteers, searchers, and hunters combing the remote and rugged terrain. The area, located about 20 miles south of the Canadian border, was largely undeveloped, hilly, and heavily forested. Despite the massive effort, no trace of Bobby was ever found. He was barefoot and wearing only blue swimming trunks, yet no footprints were discovered. Bloodhounds were brought in and reportedly tracked his scent for a couple of miles to a fork in the road before the trail went cold. Divers also searched the nearby Deep Lake and creeks to no avail.
The mysterious disappearance left investigators with several theories, though none could be substantiated. The possibility of an abduction was considered, with the Stevens County Sheriff at the time urging doctors, even in Canada, to be on the lookout for a boy matching Bobby's description. However, given the remote location and the very short window of time he was left unattended, authorities felt this was an unlikely scenario. Another theory was that Bobby had been taken by a wild animal, such as a bear or a cougar. Yet, the lack of any physical evidence, such as tracks or blood, and the fact that no one heard a struggle made this explanation seem less probable as well. The most likely scenario in the eyes of many involved was that the little boy simply became lost in the vast and difficult wilderness and succumbed to the elements. Despite the passage of decades, the case of Bobby Panknin remains an unsolved mystery, a haunting story of a family outing that ended in tragedy.Last Seen: Aug 3, 1963
