Crime Solvers Central
Crime Solvers Central
302 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.
William Ewasko missing person case profile photo

William Ewasko Missing Person Case

Last seen in Rancho Mirage, California on Jun 25, 2010

Create Press Release
Create Social Post
Create Flyer

Victim Details

Sep 25, 2017

May 20, 2019

William

Ewasko

81

65

70 inches

165 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Jun 25, 2010

Rancho Mirage

California

Riverside County

92270

34866

Riverside County Sheriff's Office

Palm Desert

California

,

T--101760057

Jun 25, 2010

Riverside County Sheriff's Office

White

Green

Green

Oct 6, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP39967) and 8 other sources
William "Bill" Ewasko, a 65-year-old from Marietta, Georgia, went missing during a solo hiking trip in Joshua Tree National Park on June 24, 2010. Ewasko was an experienced hiker who had visited the park several times. He had planned to hike and return by 5:00 PM, after which he was supposed to contact his girlfriend. When he failed to do so, she reported him missing the following day.

Search efforts began immediately after his disappearance, focusing on the area surrounding Quail Mountain, where his rental car was found parked. Despite the deployment of helicopters, sniffer dogs, and teams of volunteers, the search was largely unsuccessful. Only minimal evidence, such as a red bandana, was recovered. The search was complicated by a puzzling phone ping from Ewasko’s cell, detected by a tower over 20 miles from the search area days after he vanished. However, no concrete leads resulted from the phone signal, and the official search was called off after 11 days, although volunteers continued searching for years.

In February 2022, nearly 12 years after he disappeared, hikers discovered Ewasko’s skeletal remains in a remote section of Joshua Tree National Park, approximately 10 miles from his car. His backpack and personal belongings were also found nearby. The discovery brought some closure to the case, but the circumstances surrounding his death remain a subject of speculation, as he had ventured into a notoriously harsh and unforgiving landscape.
Last Seen: Jun 25, 2010

Links to Additional Sources (8)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP39967
  • Searching for Bill Ewasko - OtherHand
  • Ewasko, William 6-24-10 - Porchlight International for the Missing ...
  • Search For Missing Hiker Continues - Joshua Tree National Park ...
  • Bill Ewasko Search Chronology - OtherHand.org by Tom Mahood
  • 12 Years Missing In Joshua Tree - The Bill Ewasko Story - YouTube
  • Bill Ewasko finally found? : r/JoshuaTree - Reddit
  • ENJOYING NATURE: A 12-year mystery is finally solved | Glade Sun

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (10)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Menifee, California
    UP100667 • Found Sep 9, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 91%44 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%151 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 50%Blue vs Green
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California - unidentified case UP13458
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP13458 • Found Oct 7, 2014
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 65–80 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 74%107 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6"–5'10" vs 5'10"
    Weight 82%134 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 70%Hazel vs Green
    79%Possible
    John Doe — San Diego, California - unidentified case UP13615
    John Doe — San Diego, California
    UP13615 • Found Jul 4, 2013
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 60–70 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 81%80 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 3 years after last seen
    Height 84%6'0" vs 5'10"
    Weight 87%138 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    79%Possible
    John Doe — Buena Park, California - unidentified case UP12758
    John Doe — Buena Park, California
    UP12758 • Found Jul 1, 2014
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 78%91 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'11" vs 5'10"
    Weight 98%183 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Green
    78%Possible
    John Doe — Long Beach, California - unidentified case UP13324
    John Doe — Long Beach, California
    UP13324 • Found Sep 6, 2014
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 55–70 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 75%102 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 4 years after last seen
    Height 84%6'0" vs 5'10"
    Weight 93%187 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    77%Possible
    John Doe — San Diego, California - unidentified case UP65509
    John Doe — San Diego, California
    UP65509 • Found Aug 1, 2019
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 70–80 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 80%82 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
    Weight 82%134 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Green
    76%Possible
    John Doe — San Diego, California - unidentified case UP122559
    John Doe — San Diego, California
    UP122559 • Found May 13, 2024
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 60–65 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 80%82 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 14 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
    Weight 88%139 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 70%Brown vs Gray
    Eyes 70%Hazel vs Green
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Los Angeles, California
    UP104480 • Found Mar 22, 2023
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 55–70 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 73%108 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 13 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'6"–5'9" vs 5'10"
    Weight 100%180–190 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 70%Brown vs Gray
    Eyes 50%Blue vs Green
    76%Possible
    John Doe — San Bernardino, California - unidentified case UP88020
    John Doe — San Bernardino, California
    UP88020 • Found Feb 9, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 50–70 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 87%57 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 11 years after last seen
    Height 84%6'0" vs 5'10"
    Weight 70%206 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 70%Hazel vs Green
    76%Possible
    John Doe — La Mesa, California - unidentified case UP64835
    John Doe — La Mesa, California
    UP64835 • Found Oct 31, 2019
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 68–82 vs 65 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 82%75 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'9" vs 5'10"
    Weight 0%317 lb vs 165 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

    Latest News

    View All

    Forum Posts (1)

    William Bill Ewasko, 65, of Marietta, Georgia, disappeared while on a solo hike in Joshua Tree... ...Read More
    09/03/2023

    Other Missing Cases from Rancho Mirage, California

    Craig Finne missing person case in Rancho Mirage, California

    Craig Finne

    Missing: Jun 24, 2018
    Craig Finne, a 61-year-old man from Rancho Mirage, California, has been missing since June 21, 2018. ...Read More