Phillip Wesley Sheridan was 30 years old when he was last seen in Millsboro, Delaware, on August 17, 1973. Online records list him as a White/Caucasian male, 6 feet tall and about 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. His NamUs case is MP8788, and public case summaries identify the investigating agency as Delaware State Police Troop 4 in Sussex County.
Sheridan’s disappearance appears to have begun as a boating emergency.
According to the public case information, he went ocean fishing in a 16-foot outboard boat and did not return. His wife contacted the U.S. Coast Guard at about 7:30 a.m. the following morning, August 18, 1973. The Coast Guard later found the boat floating approximately 1.5 miles off Bethany Beach, Delaware. Sheridan was not on board.
The condition of the boat suggested that something may have gone wrong mechanically while he was at sea. Public summaries state that the engine cover had been removed from the engine, which was interpreted as a possible sign of mechanical failure. Sheridan’s wallet and glasses were reportedly still inside the boat when it was found, details that add to the concern that he may have encountered trouble suddenly and had little opportunity to get safely back to shore.
At the time he disappeared, Sheridan was reportedly wearing shorts with orange and blue stripes, a white T-shirt with “Rehoboth” on it, and blue tennis shoes. Records also note identifying scars: a four-inch scar on the right side of his face and a one-inch scar over his left eyebrow. These details remain important because, in long-term missing-person investigations, even small physical identifiers can help investigators compare records and evaluate possible matches.
The case was not reported to Delaware State Police until October 1, 1973, according to the provided public case data, and the case remains listed publicly through NamUs and other missing-person case indexes. The attached case data does not list a resolution status of Alive or Deceased, so no recovery or closure status is stated here. Sheridan’s disappearance remains a deeply painful and unanswered loss for those who knew him, and the available public information points to a man who went out for a day of fishing and never came home.Last Seen: Aug 17, 1973
