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Phillip Gilliam Missing Person Case

Last seen in Surprise, Arizona on Jan 19, 2005

Victim Details

May 18, 2010

Aug 12, 2019

Phillip

Gilliam

69

48

73 inches

74 inches

220 lbs

240 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Jan 19, 2005

Surprise

Arizona

Maricopa County

85374

8576

La Paz County Sheriff's Office

Parker

Arizona

La Paz County

85344

Steven Draper

Investigator

1109 West Arizona Avenue, Arizona

9286696141

County

Law Enforcement

https://www.lapazsheriff.org/

La Paz County Sheriff's Office

Blond/Strawberry

Blue

Blue

Oct 5, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

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Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP7187) and 1 other source
In the winter of 2005, a 48-year-old man named Phillip Eugene Gilliam vanished, leaving behind a trail of questions that remain unanswered. Originally from Surprise, Arizona, his last confirmed sighting was on January 19, 2005. On that day, just after midnight, he was seen at a Chevron gas station in Quartzsite, Arizona, speaking with an unidentified man. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing blue denim jeans, a blue long-sleeved shirt with a white t-shirt underneath, and a tan cowboy-style hat. He has not been seen or heard from since that early morning conversation.

The mystery deepened when, less than a week later, on January 25, 2005, Phillip's vehicle was found abandoned. His 1997 maroon and gray Dodge Caravan was discovered west of Bouse, Arizona, on Polmosa Road. The van was eventually towed by the La Paz County Sheriff's Office on January 29, 2005, after it was determined to have been left with possible mechanical issues. It wasn't until February 8, 2005, that he was officially reported missing to the Apache Junction Police Department, weeks after he was last seen and his vehicle was recovered.

The circumstances surrounding Phillip Gilliam's disappearance are perplexing. The timeline of events, from his last known location in Quartzsite to the discovery of his abandoned vehicle near Bouse and the subsequent missing person report, paints a fragmented picture. The identity of the man he was speaking with at the gas station remains unknown, and there is no indication of what their conversation was about. The condition of his van suggests potential car trouble, but it doesn't explain his complete disappearance. The investigation, led by the La Paz County Sheriff's Office, has yet to yield any definitive answers, leaving his case an open and troubling mystery.
Last Seen: Jan 19, 2005

Links to Additional Sources (1)

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  • Missing Person / NamUs

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (2)

    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.

    76%Possible
    John Doe — Rio Verde, Arizona - unidentified case UP13861
    John Doe — Rio Verde, Arizona
    UP13861 • Found Apr 28, 2015
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 50–65 vs 47–48 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 90%46 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 10 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'11" vs 6'1"–6'2"
    Hair 50%Brown vs Blond
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Peoria, Arizona - unidentified case UP142022
    John Doe — Peoria, Arizona
    UP142022 • Found Feb 12, 2025
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 57–70 vs 47–48 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 99%14 mi away, same county
    TimingFound 20 years after last seen
    Height 68%5'10" vs 6'1"–6'2"
    Weight 55%120–150 lb vs 220–240 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Blond

    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 (3)

    Does anyone have any theories about the gap between when the vehicle was found and when it was... ...Read More
    01/10/2024
    Has anyone else been following the strange timeline in the Apache Junction case? I just can't wrap... ...Read More
    12/24/2023
    Has anyone here been following the case of the person who went missing in early 2005? The one that... ...Read More
    12/22/2023

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