On February 1, 2015, 21-year-old Drake Kramer, a student from San Antonio, Texas, vanished from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. He was last seen near the Bright Angel Lodge, where he had checked in the previous day and checked out that morning. Kramer, a geology student at the University of Texas at San Antonio, was described by his father as a frugal, hardworking, and good student who had a deep appreciation for nature and had visited the Grand Canyon several times before.
He was wearing a grey or green sweatshirt, blue jeans, a dark-colored baseball cap worn backward, and black Adidas shoes. His family reported him missing on February 2 after becoming concerned about a series of text messages he had sent.
Kramer had unexpectedly left his home in Texas, telling his family through texts that he had first driven to California and then to the Grand Canyon. His final text message to his loved ones stated that he loved them and 'needed to be back with Mother Earth and set his soul free.' This message, coupled with his sudden departure, raised alarm. His vehicle, a white 2007 Mazda 323, was found in the parking lot of the Bright Angel Lodge. Although his family said he seemed to be in good spirits before his trip, there were indications that he may have been in a fragile emotional state at the time of his disappearance.
An extensive search and rescue operation was launched by the National Park Service, involving over 40 personnel. Search teams on the ground covered miles of the canyon rim and heavily forested areas. K-9 units, technical over-the-rim searches, and aerial surveillance were all utilized in the effort to find any trace of the missing student. Despite the massive and prolonged search, which at one point was scaled back to a recovery mission, no clues to Kramer's whereabouts have ever been found. His case remains an open investigation, a painful mystery for his family who continue to hope for answers. The disappearance of Drake Kramer is a somber reminder of the vast and unforgiving nature of the Grand Canyon and the lingering pain experienced by families of the missing.Last Seen: Feb 1, 2015
