In the small city of Trinidad, Colorado, the disappearance of Nicholas Joseph Dolce remains a haunting case that began decades ago. At the age of 36, Dolce was last seen on September 2, 1986. His vanishing is inextricably linked to the tragic death of his mother, Rebecca Bates, who was the victim of a homicide on May 2, 1986. Authorities have wanted Dolce for questioning in connection with his mother's death, which occurred at her residence at 218 E. Johnson in Trinidad. Since the day he was last seen, there has been no confirmed contact with Nicholas Dolce, leaving a void of information and unanswered questions for his family and investigators.
Nicholas, also known by a litany of aliases including Nick Dolce, Richard Jake Dankert, and Edward D. Bear, among many others, has a number of distinguishing physical characteristics that authorities hoped would aid in his identification. Standing between 5'6' and 5'9' and weighing approximately 140 to 150 pounds at the time of his disappearance, he had brown hair and brown eyes. More specific marks include a burn scar on his buttocks, a scar above his right eye, and a possible gunshot wound scar on one of his knees. A particularly notable feature is a deformity on either his left or right pinky finger, which is shorter due to an untreated break. His hair was described as being medium to shoulder length, and he was known to have a mustache.
The circumstances leading up to Dolce's disappearance are deeply troubling. Following the discovery of his mother's death, which was determined to be a homicide, Dolce became a person of interest in the investigation. Reports indicate that after his mother was found, Dolce himself was last seen in Trinidad and has not been heard from since. This abrupt and complete lack of communication, coupled with the ongoing investigation into his mother's death, has left the case in a state of prolonged uncertainty. The passage of time has not diminished the hope for answers, and the case remains a poignant reminder of a family tragedy and a man who seemingly vanished without a trace. The overview of the case is one of a man last seen shortly after his mother's homicide, for which he is wanted, and who has not been seen or heard from in decades.
Last Seen: Sep 2, 1986
