Account
Feb 01, 2014
May 30, 2023
Joseph
Wood, Jr
59
34
69 inches
72 inches
160 lbs
180 lbs
Black / African American
Male
In July 1999, Joseph "Joe" Lee Wood Jr., a 34-year-old book editor from New York City, traveled to Seattle, Washington, to attend a journalism conference. On July 8th, he decided to take a day trip to Mount Rainier National Park for a hike and some bird-watching. He rented a car and was seen entering the park in the early afternoon. The weather was clear and mild, seemingly perfect for a day in nature. Joseph, an avid birdwatcher, was carrying a field guide and binoculars. He was last seen by another hiker that afternoon on the Van Trump Park trail, near Comet Falls, at an elevation of about 4,800 feet. He was not on the main trail but appeared to be following footprints in the snow. He was lightly dressed and did not have any overnight gear, food, or water with him. Concern grew when Joseph did not return to the conference, check out of his hotel, or return his rental car. A friend and fellow journalist, Somini Sengupta, reported him missing on July 13th. Park rangers quickly located his rental car in the Longmire parking lot. Inside the vehicle were a sweater and a briefcase containing clothes, further indicating he had only planned a short day trip. An extensive five-day search was launched, involving as many as 35 searchers, four search dogs, and a helicopter. Despite their efforts, no trace of Joseph was ever found – not his clothing, his binoculars, or his bird-watching book. The search was hampered by the significant amount of snow still present at higher elevations from a record-breaking winter, which could have obscured trails and created hazardous conditions like snow bridges. The disappearance of Joseph Wood Jr. remains a perplexing mystery. Theories about what happened to him range from him getting lost and succumbing to the elements to a tragic accident, such as falling through a snow bridge into a crevasse or a stream. The treacherous terrain of Mount Rainier, with its glaciers, cliffs, and unpredictable weather, presents numerous dangers, even for experienced hikers. Joseph's lack of preparedness for an overnight stay in such an environment would have made any minor incident significantly more dangerous. Over two decades later, his case remains open, and the question of what happened to the promising young writer on that summer day in Mount Rainier National Park endures.
Jul 08, 1999
Mt. Rainier Nat. Park
Washington
Lewis County
No
22993
New York City Police Department - Missing Persons Squad
New York
New York
New York County
10039
2770 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, New York
2126947781
Local
Law Enforcement
990472 NPS case number
New York City Police Department - Missing Persons Squad
Black
Brown
Brown
06/25/2026
