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David Sampson Missing Person Case

Last seen in Seattle, Washington on Mar 1, 1977

Victim Details

Mar 23, 2012

Jun 19, 2023

David

Sampson

70

21

72 inches

140 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Mar 1, 1977

Seattle

Washington

King County

98177

No

11554

King County Sheriff's Office

Seattle

Washington

King County

98104

Thomas Jensen

Analyst

516 3rd Avenue Room W-150, Washington

2062964155

County

Law Enforcement

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

84-195323

Mar 23, 2012

King County Sheriff's Office

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 11, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP14272) and 8 other sources
In the late winter of 1977, a young man named David Robert Sampson, a 21-year-old student at the University of Washington, vanished from Seattle. His disappearance on March 1, 1977, was marked by an abrupt departure from his life as a student, a life that had recently been influenced by a significant personality change. Friends and family had noted this shift, which they associated with a recent and intense religious conversion. When he left, David was not empty-handed; he carried a packboard with a green pack, a light blue sleeping bag, extensive survival gear, a Bible, and other religious materials. He was dressed for the outdoors in a dark blue or green ski jacket, blue jeans, and hiking boots, but notably, he left behind any form of identification or money.

David's interests before he disappeared included botany, 'alpine survival hiking,' and environmental concerns, suggesting a deep appreciation for the wilderness. It is this love for the outdoors, coupled with his recent religious fervor, that paints a picture of a young man perhaps seeking solace or a different path in the vast landscapes of the Pacific Northwest. He was described as a white male, standing at 6 feet tall and weighing around 140 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He had small moles on his upper lip and chin. The circumstances of his departure, leaving without a trace or any communication with his family, have left those who knew him with decades of unanswered questions.

The case of David Robert Sampson has remained unsolved for many years, a quiet and lingering mystery among Washington's cold cases. Despite the passage of time, the official investigation by the King County Sheriff's Office has not yielded any definitive answers as to his whereabouts or what became of him. His family, originally from the Bakersfield, California area, has been left to wonder about the fate of their son. The lack of any substantial leads or new evidence has meant that David's story has largely remained out of the public eye, only occasionally resurfacing in discussions of long-term missing persons. The overview of this case is one of a sudden departure driven by personal transformation, a young man equipped for survival in the wild yet seemingly unprepared for a return to his old life, leaving a void of information and a family waiting for answers.
Last Seen: Mar 1, 1977

Links to Additional Sources (8)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • David Sampson | Whereabouts Still Unknown
  • David Robert Sampson - The Charley Project
  • Missing Person Case File: David Robert Sampson - MuckRock
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP14272
  • 4774DMWA - David Robert Sampson - Doe Network
  • Pierce County John Doe 1978 Missing David Robert Sampson 1977 ...
  • David Robert Sampson - The Charley Project Blog
  • David Sampson Missing Person Flyer | Seattle, WA - CaseTrace

    • 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.

    79%Possible
    John Doe — Washington - unidentified case UP5697
    John Doe — Washington
    UP5697 • Found Mar 18, 1989
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 18–24 vs 21 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 90%48 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 12 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'10" vs 6'0"
    Weight 99%155 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)

    Hey everyone, I recently stumbled upon David Robert Sampson's case while reading about cold cases in... ...Read More
    06/14/2024
    Hey everyone, I was reading through some old missing persons cases and came across David Robert... ...Read More
    12/16/2023

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