Richard Willis Bendele, 29, was last seen on November 17, 1996, while hunting pheasants in the remote Laidlaw Park area of Blaine County, Idaho. That evening, he called his mother from his blue pickup truck, stating that the vehicle had stalled despite having gas, and he believed someone had tampered with it. He sounded nervous but assured his mother he would mark a nearby turnoff and call her back. Unfortunately, that call never came, and after a failed attempt by his mother and girlfriend to reach him due to car trouble, they reported him missing later that night.
Search and rescue teams found his truck the next day near the Laidlaw Corral area. The vehicle had a smashed window, a broken battery, and contained his belongings, including his coat, cell phone, and his late father’s shotgun—an item he was known to cherish and would never leave behind. Some items believed to have been used to mark the turnoff, such as a beer box and cans, were found nearby. The search also uncovered a right-hand leather glove, a fryer glove from his workplace, and one of his sneakers, but no further clues emerged.
Bendele was going through a divorce at the time of his disappearance and lived with his girlfriend in Burley, Idaho. Although he had struggled with substance abuse in the past, his family stated that he had turned his life around. His disappearance is suspected to be involuntary, and authorities believe he may have been taken against his will, though no suspects have been identified. His case remains unsolved.
Last Seen: Nov 17, 1996
