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Vincent Gartner Missing Person Case

Last seen in North Bend, Washington on Jan 24, 1980

Victim Details

Dec 17, 2012

Jun 19, 2023

Vincent

Gartner

69

23

70 inches

140 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Jan 24, 1980

North Bend

Washington

King County

No

12819

King County Sheriff's Office

Seattle

Washington

King County

98104

Janet Gregory

Project Program Mgr 3

516 3rd Avenue Room W-150, Washington

2062964155

County

Law Enforcement

https://kingcounty.gov/depts/sheriff.aspx

12-290434

Dec 17, 2012

King County Sheriff's Office

Brown

Blue

Blue

Oct 11, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP18469) and 1 other source
In January of 1980, a 23-year-old man named Vincent L. Gartner, who was on a pass from the U.S. Coast Guard, seemingly vanished while on a planned snowshoeing trip. His ship, the USCGC Boutwell, was left behind when he departed on Thursday, January 24, 1980. Evidence suggests he rented snowshoes in Seattle and left his Suzuki motorcycle at the Greyhound Bus Depot, leading authorities to believe he was headed for the Snoqualmie Pass area. When he did not return to his duties as scheduled on the following Sunday, concerns for his welfare grew, prompting official searches.

Initial search and rescue efforts were concentrated on both the Snoqualmie and Stevens Pass areas, as these were the most likely destinations for a snowshoeing excursion from Seattle. Despite these extensive searches, no trace of Vincent was found. The challenging terrain and weather conditions of the Cascade Mountains in winter would have made any search operation incredibly difficult, and ultimately, these early efforts proved fruitless. His family has since confirmed that he was never located, and his remains have never been recovered.

The disappearance of Vincent Gartner has remained an unsolved case for decades, a lingering mystery held within the vast wilderness of Washington state. He is described as a white male, with brown hair and blue eyes, standing approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing around 140 pounds at the time of his disappearance. The King County Sheriff's Office continues to hold the case file for the young Coast Guardsman who went for a winter hike and never came back. The lack of any definitive evidence, discovery of remains, or subsequent leads has left his family without answers, preserving his story as a somber reminder of the unforgiving power of nature and the enduring pain of not knowing.
Last Seen: Jan 24, 1980

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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  • Missing Vincent L Gartner age 23 1980 North Bend, WA on a pass ...

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (3)

    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.

    82%Moderate
    John Doe — Washington - unidentified case UP5697
    John Doe — Washington
    UP5697 • Found Mar 18, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–24 vs 23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 94%34 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'10" vs 5'10"
    Weight 99%155 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Issaquah, Washington - unidentified case UP8582
    John Doe — Issaquah, Washington
    UP8582 • Found Jan 15, 2003
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–30 vs 23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 100%12 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 23 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'3"–5'8" vs 5'10"
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Portland, Oregon - unidentified case UP11906
    John Doe — Portland, Oregon
    UP11906 • Found Jul 28, 1988
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 20–30 vs 23 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 66%144 mi away
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'8" vs 5'10"
    Weight 91%160 lb vs 140 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown

    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.

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    Forum Posts (2)

    I recently came across Vincent Gartner's case from 1980, and something that's been puzzling me is... ...Read More
    08/08/2024
    Has anyone else looked into the local folklore surrounding the Snoqualmie Pass area? I was reading... ...Read More
    01/25/2024

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