In the winter of 1984, a day after Christmas, 16-year-old Matthew Paul Garnes told his parents he was making a trip to Portland, Oregon, from their home in Tacoma, Washington. It was December 26th, and the teenager, known to his friends and family as Matt, got into his gold 1974 Plymouth Duster and drove off. He was a student at Curtis High School where he was a member of the baseball team and held a part-time job at a local Texaco.
That day, he was wearing a black Wilsons leather jacket, a sleeveless black Iron Maiden t-shirt, jeans, and Nike tennis shoes. He also wore a silver chain necklace. Neither Matthew nor his car, bearing the Washington license plate BUX-160, have been seen since.
At the time of his disappearance, Matthew was described as being 5'7' tall and weighing approximately 135 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He had freckles and a noticeable three-inch scar on his right cheek. He also had old fractures on his upper right foot and right elbow. In the initial stages of the investigation, law enforcement considered the possibility that Matthew may have run away. However, as time stretched on with no contact, this theory became less likely, as it is uncommon for a runaway to vanish so completely for such an extended period. The Pierce County Sheriff's Office has maintained his case as an active investigation, classifying him as an endangered missing person.
Decades have passed since Matthew Garnes was last seen, and his case has grown cold, yet the search for answers continues. Investigators and his loved ones are still hoping for a breakthrough that might finally shed light on what happened to the 16-year-old boy who seemingly vanished on his way to Portland. The complete absence of both Matthew and his vehicle remains a baffling mystery. Over the years, numerous appeals for information have been made to the public, but unfortunately, no significant leads have ever been generated. The case serves as a somber reminder of the enduring pain and uncertainty that families of the missing face, holding onto hope for a resolution that has yet to come. The overview of this case is one of a sudden and unexplained disappearance that has left a family with unanswered questions for decades.Last Seen: Dec 26, 1984
