In the winter of 1986, a 72-year-old man named Alexander Borah Welcher vanished from Tacoma, Washington, leaving behind a life seemingly paused in mid-moment. He was last seen on February 26, 1986, at his gun shop, 'Welcher's,' located on Pacific Avenue. Known to suffer from arthritis in his legs, which made walking long distances difficult, and also from diabetes, his sudden disappearance from the place he both worked and lived above was immediately alarming.
The scene left for investigators was one of eerie normalcy, a setting that offered more questions than answers. The gun shop was securely locked, and inside, cash remained in the register, and none of the firearms were missing. Outside, all three of his vehicles were still parked in their usual spots, suggesting he had not driven away. There were no signs of a struggle or any forced entry, just the unsettling absence of the shop's owner.
The investigation into Alexander's disappearance soon uncovered a perplexing lead that only deepened the mystery. Investigators learned that a man known only as 'Fred' had been a frequent presence at the gun shop in the months leading up to Welcher's disappearance. Described as unassuming, 'Fred' tended to stay in the background, speaking only when spoken to. He had offered conflicting accounts of his past, at times claiming to be a gunsmith from Iowa, and at other times stating he was from Minnesota, North Dakota, or Wisconsin. Authorities discovered that 'Fred' had been staying at a motel near the gun shop, but the name and identification he had used to rent the room were found to be fake. Just as Alexander had vanished, so too had 'Fred,' leaving no trace behind.
Decades have passed since Alexander Welcher was last seen, and his case remains one of Tacoma's oldest unsolved mysteries. Foul play is suspected in his disappearance, but the lack of physical evidence and the transient nature of the only person of interest have left law enforcement with few avenues to pursue. The circumstances surrounding the case are a collection of contradictions: a locked and undisturbed shop, personal and business valuables left untouched, and a man with mobility issues vanishing without his vehicles. The mysterious 'Fred' represents the most tangible lead, yet his true identity and connection to Alexander's fate remain unknown. The case stands as a quiet, lingering question in Tacoma's history, a story of a man who simply disappeared from his life, leaving behind only shadows and speculation.Last Seen: Feb 26, 1986
