In the winter of 2012, family and friends of Dale Diaz-DeLeon were faced with his sudden disappearance. The 38-year-old male was last seen on January 13, 2012, in the city of Vancouver, Washington. At the time, he was described as being of Hispanic and White/Caucasian ethnicity, with black hair and brown eyes, standing at 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 150 pounds.
The circumstances surrounding what happened to him on that day remain largely unknown, leaving a void of information and a great deal of uncertainty for those who cared for him. His case was officially created in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System in November of that same year, but for years, there were no significant developments.
A major breakthrough in the case came five and a half years later, in June 2017. Partial human remains were discovered on the shore of the Columbia River, a major waterway that forms the border between Washington and Oregon, in Cowlitz County, Washington. Following this discovery, a forensic investigation was launched to identify the individual. The results of this investigation brought a somber conclusion to the search for Dale Diaz-DeLeon, as the remains were confirmed to be his. This finding shifted the focus of the investigation from a missing person case to a death investigation, though the cause and manner of his death have not been publicly detailed.
Even with the confirmation of his passing, the case of Dale Diaz-DeLeon is not considered fully resolved. Because only partial remains were recovered, law enforcement agencies continue to keep his case active. The Clark County Sheriff's Office is the primary investigating agency, and the case will officially remain open in the NamUs database until his full remains are found. This ongoing status reflects the commitment to providing as complete a picture as possible of the final chapter of his life, and to bringing a more definitive sense of closure to his family. The overview of this case is one of a long and painful wait for answers, a partial discovery that confirmed the worst fears, and a continued search for the remaining pieces of the puzzle that might one day bring a full measure of peace.Last Seen: Jan 13, 2012
