In 1980, a young man named Mitchell 'Mitch' Todd Hein made the decision to move out of his parents' home in Golden, Colorado. For the next three years, he embraced a nomadic lifestyle, traveling extensively across the country and taking on various odd jobs. His work included rebuilding boats, working as a car mechanic, and laboring in the oil fields. His travels took him to various states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and California.
Despite his transient life, Mitch maintained a connection with his family, sending them postcards from his various locations and making it a point to return home to Colorado for the Christmas holidays each year. This annual tradition brought a sense of regularity to his otherwise unpredictable life.
In December of 1982, Mitch returned to Colorado for his customary holiday visit with his family. However, his departure in early 1983 was markedly different from previous years. Sometime between January and February, he left abruptly and without saying goodbye to anyone. When he was last seen by his family, he was carrying his clothing and other belongings in a black trash bag. After leaving Colorado, a friend reported seeing him in Clinton, Oklahoma. From there, in early March 1983, he reportedly hitched a ride to California with his friend's father. Their journey led them to a hotel in Indio, California, where they stopped for the night. It was from this hotel room that Mitchell Hein walked out and was never seen or heard from again.
At the time of his disappearance, Mitchell was 22 years old and described as having a 'anti-establishment' viewpoint. There were suggestions that he may have been involved with drugs around this time. It was also reported that he had disposed of his driver's license and Social Security card, and may not have been carrying any form of identification. He was last seen wearing tattered blue jeans, a flannel shirt, and either tennis shoes or work boots. Physically, he stood at 6 feet tall and weighed around 170 pounds, with naturally curly brown or auburn hair that was described as bushy and unkempt. He also had a full beard and a large scar on one of his knees. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unclear, with the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office continuing to seek information from the public to resolve this long-standing case.Last Seen: Feb 1, 1983
