Account
Feb 02, 2010
Jun 26, 2023
John
Fairbank
77
54
68 inches
200 lbs
220 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In the late summer of 2001, 54-year-old John Frederick Fairbank vanished from his home in the Tualatin and Wilsonville area of Oregon. He was a man who enjoyed his privacy, living on a rural property on Southwest Boones Ferry Road. Standing at 5'8" and weighing between 200 and 220 pounds, John was a distinctive figure with brown eyes and graying black hair that he often wore in a ponytail. The last confirmed sightings of him were in late August or early September of that year. It wasn't until February 27, 2002, that a friend, concerned by his prolonged and uncharacteristic absence, officially reported him as a missing person. By that time, months had already passed without a word, creating a significant delay in the start of the investigation into his whereabouts. The circumstances surrounding John's disappearance quickly raised alarms. Investigators learned that his roommate, Daniel Earl Ingram, who also used the name Daniel Proper, had begun selling off John's personal property shortly after he was last seen. Among the items sold were antiques, a Chevrolet pickup truck, and a tractor. When questioned, Ingram gave conflicting stories, including a claim that John was traveling in Cuba. This explanation seemed unlikely to those who knew John, as it was out of character for him to leave without notifying anyone, despite his penchant for world travel. The Washington County Sheriff's Office identified Ingram as a person of interest in the case, and a search of the residence they shared reportedly revealed "signs of trauma," leading authorities to suspect foul play. Despite extensive efforts, the case grew cold. Law enforcement officials have stated their belief that John was likely a victim of homicide, with his remains possibly located somewhere in the Portland area. Massive searches were conducted on his large, heavily wooded property, utilizing forensic botanists to look for disturbed soil and cadaver dogs to search for the scent of human remains. Members of a local metal detector club also aided in the search, but after more than a thousand hours of physical searching, no trace of John was ever found. At the time of his disappearance, John was unemployed and supported himself by selling antiques, some of which were family heirlooms. The investigation into what happened to John Frederick Fairbank remains open, a lingering mystery for law enforcement and a quiet sorrow for those who remember him.
Sep 01, 2001
Tualatin
Oregon
Washington County
No
8145
Washington County Sheriff's Office
Hillsboro
Oregon
Washington County
97123
Scott Cater
Detective
215 Southwest Adams Avenue, Oregon
5038462700
County
Law Enforcement
2002-02-27
Washington County Sheriff's Office
Gray or Partially Gray
Brown
Brown
05/25/2026
