298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

George Carpenter Missing Person Case

Last seen in San Luis Obispo, California on Dec 23, 2009

Victim Details

Created

Jun 18, 2012

Case Added

Jan 20, 2022

First Name

George

Last Name

Carpenter

Current Age

Age At Disappearance

Height

71 inches

Weight

170 lbs

Ethnicity

White / Caucasian

Gender

Male

Last Seen

Dec 23, 2009

City

San Luis Obispo

State

California

County

San Luis Obispo County

Agency ID

11871

Agency Name

San Luis Obispo Police Department

Agency City

San Luis Obispo

Agency State

California

Agency County

San Luis Obispo County

Agency Zip Code

93401

Agency Address

1042 Walnut Street, California

Agency Phone

8057817317

Agency Jurisdiction

Local

Agency Type

Law Enforcement

Agency Website

https://www.slocity.org/government/department-directory/police-department

Agency Case #

091223052

Primary Agency

San Luis Obispo Police Department

Hair Color

Gray or Partially Gray

Left Eye Color

Green

Right Eye Color

Green

Solved

Last Updated

Oct 12, 2026

Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!

Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP15036) and 6 other sources

George Carpenter, a 75-year-old man from San Luis Obispo, California, went missing on December 23, 2009. He was last seen around 2:00 PM when he left home with his dog, a black Labrador named Scooter, to go for a walk at Laguna Lake Park. Carpenter, who was experiencing mild symptoms of dementia, did not return and has not been seen since.

About a month after his disappearance, Carpenter's gray 1989 Jeep Comanche was discovered near Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County, which is a considerable distance from where he was last seen. His dog, Scooter, was found alive near the town of Gorda, approximately 60 miles away from the vehicle's location. Despite this discovery, extensive searches in the rugged terrain surrounding the area, including efforts by the Monterey County Search and Rescue team, did not yield any further clues about Carpenter's whereabouts.

Carpenter's case remains unsolved, and authorities have not been able to determine what led him to the remote area where his vehicle and dog were found. His family, friends, and local law enforcement continue to search for answers, but as of now, no definitive information has emerged regarding his fate. The circumstances of his disappearance remain mysterious, compounded by his cognitive condition and the vast, challenging environment where the search took place.
Last Seen: Dec 23, 2009

Links to Additional Sources (6)

See any mistakes? Let us know!

Missing Person / NamUs #MP15036

George Carpenter's vehicle found - Cal Coast News

George Lyman Carpenter - The Charley Project

Wilderness Mind - Slo Coast Journal

Search of Laguna Lake for missing man yields no results - YouTube

George Carpenter: Missing since December 2009 | San Luis Obispo ...

Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

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.

77%Possible

John Doe — Los Angeles, California

UP13458 • Found Oct 7, 2014

View case

Sex ✓Male

Age 100%Est. 65–80 vs 75 when missing

Race 100%White

Location 63%161 mi away, same state

TimingFound 5 years after last seen

Height 100%5'6"–5'10" vs 5'11"

Weight 78%134 lb vs 170 lb

Hair 100%Gray vs Gray

Eyes 70%Hazel vs Green

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.

George Carpenter Missing Person Case

Last seen in San Luis Obispo, California on Dec 23, 2009

Victim Details

Case Description

Links to Additional Sources (6)

Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

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Forum Posts (1)

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