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Jon Ottesen Missing Person Case

Last seen in Las Cruces, New Mexico on Sep 5, 1999

Victim Details

Feb 6, 2010

Nov 1, 2022

Jon

Ottesen

88

61

60 inches

62 inches

150 lbs

160 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Sep 5, 1999

Las Cruces

New Mexico

8155

Las Cruces Police Department

Las Cruces

New Mexico

Doña Ana County

88001

Richard Swanson

Volunteer Analyst

217 East Picacho Avenue, New Mexico

5755260795

Local

Law Enforcement

http://www.las-cruces.org/departments/police-department

9916595

Las Cruces Police Department

Gray or Partially Gray

Blue

Blue

Oct 6, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP4983) and 6 other sources
On September 5, 1999, 61-year-old Jon Evans Ottesen was seen for the last time in Las Cruces, New Mexico. He was preparing for a hiking trip into the Black Range of the vast Gila National Forest, a rugged and remote expanse of wilderness. Ottesen, a white male with graying hair, blue eyes, and a beard, was equipped for the outdoors, wearing tan corduroy pants, a dark windbreaker, and sturdy hiking boots. He also had on a hand-knit ski hat and wore glasses. His intention was to spend time in nature, exploring the mountainous terrain he was drawn to.

Sometime after he was last seen, concern for Jon's welfare grew when he did not return or make contact with anyone. Authorities were alerted, and the search for him began. His Ford pick-up truck was eventually discovered parked along a well-traveled road within the Gila National Forest, confirming he had made it to the area where he planned to hike. However, there was no sign of Jon Ottesen himself. The discovery of his vehicle without him initiated an intensive search of the surrounding wilderness, but the dense forest and challenging landscape yielded no clues as to his whereabouts.

Decades have passed since Jon Ottesen vanished into the Black Range. The silence and lack of any new information have left his case unsolved. The official investigation, led by the Las Cruces Police Department, remains open, but with no further leads, the trail has gone cold. For his family and friends, the absence of answers is a painful reality. The case of Jon Ottesen is a somber reminder of how a person can disappear into the wilderness, leaving behind only questions and an enduring sense of loss for those who knew him. The Gila National Forest holds the secret of his fate, a secret it has yet to reveal.
Last Seen: Sep 5, 1999

Links to Additional Sources (6)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • 3950DMNM - Jon Evans Ottesen - Doe Network
  • Jon Evans Ottesen - The Charley Project
  • Missing Person / NamUs
  • Disappeared, Just a Car Left Behind - The Land of Entrapment
  • NM - Jon Evans Ottesen, 61, Las Cruces, 5 Sept 1999 | Websleuths
  • Jon Evans Ottesen - New Mexico Missing Person Directory

    • 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 — El Paso, Texas - unidentified case UP14566
    John Doe — El Paso, Texas
    UP14566 • Found Sep 9, 2014
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 61 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 91%43 mi away
    TimingFound 15 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'1" vs 5'0"–5'2"
    Weight 100%147 lb vs 150–160 lb
    Hair 100%Gray vs Gray
    Eyes 0%Brown vs Blue

    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.

    Latest News

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    Forum Posts (3)

    Hey everyone, I was reading about Jon Evans Ottesen's case, and something caught my attention around... ...Read More
    08/22/2024
    Has anyone else wondered about the possibility of an animal encounter in Jon Ottesen's case?... ...Read More
    07/23/2024
    Does anyone have information about the weather conditions in the Gila National Forest around the... ...Read More
    02/11/2023

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