On April 14, 1991, 45-year-old Edwin Oliver Pooler, a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes, was last seen in the Alice Flats HUD Sites in Keller, Washington. He was reportedly in the company of three men and one woman at the time of his disappearance. Initially, his family was not alarmed, as Edwin had a history of disappearing for short periods. However, as weeks turned into an extended absence, his sister reported him missing. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance led his family to suspect foul play from the beginning. Edwin was known to struggle with alcohol and associated with individuals involved with drugs. He had also previously served time in prison for robbery. A distinguishing characteristic was that he had lost his left eye in an accident and may have been wearing an eye patch, as his prosthetic eye had been misplaced before he vanished.
Years passed without any resolution in Edwin's case, leaving his family with unanswered questions. The situation took a significant turn in December 2005 when his cousin, James H. Gallaher Jr., was indicted by a federal grand jury for the premeditated murder of Edwin Pooler. Gallaher, who also belonged to the Colville Confederated Tribes, had a criminal history that included theft, assault, and robbery. He had occasionally provided Edwin with a place to stay at his home in Keller. The indictment brought a renewed focus on the case, which had long been considered a cold case by many. The legal proceedings that followed would slowly begin to unravel the events of that day in 1991.
In a dramatic turn in May 2007, James Gallaher Jr. confessed in open court to killing his cousin. Gallaher claimed the death was unintentional, stating that he had punched Edwin in the head after an incident in his living room, which resulted in a broken neck. Subsequently, in May 2009, Gallaher pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of involuntary manslaughter. He was sentenced to six years in prison, and with credit for time served, his release was anticipated in three years. This plea deal meant he avoided a potential life sentence that a first-degree murder charge could have carried. Despite the conviction, Edwin Pooler's remains have never been found, and the case officially remains an endangered missing person case with suspected foul play. The family has also endured the pain of another unsolved disappearance; Edwin's brother, George, went missing in 1988, though authorities do not believe the two cases are connected.
Last Seen: Apr 14, 1991
