Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP141148)
Bret Kyle Valona, a 36-year-old U.S. Marine Corps veteran from Wisconsin, was last seen on March 1, 2025, when his family dropped him off at the Eastern Lake Trailhead in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. An experienced outdoorsman and Iraq War veteran, Valona was known for his minimalist, "primitive" camping style, often surviving off the land for up to three weeks without modern equipment or communication devices.
His family expected regular check-ins, but after he failed to make contact by March 2, concern grew. He was officially reported missing to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office on March 29, nearly a month after his last known sighting .
Valona’s disappearance prompted a coordinated search effort involving the Walton County Sheriff’s Office and the Walton Correctional K-9 Team. A search operation was conducted on March 30 in the area surrounding the Eastern Lake Trailhead. Family members, who reside in Wisconsin, have been actively involved in the search, organizing additional efforts and traveling to Florida to aid in locating him. A new search was scheduled to begin on April 24 at 10 a.m. at the Eastern Lake Trailhead .
Valona is described as 6 feet 1 inch tall, weighing 190 pounds, with brown hair, blue eyes, and a brown goatee. He was last seen wearing a flannel shirt, khaki pants, and a yellow rain jacket . His family has expressed deep concern for his well-being, especially after learning that he had been experiencing suicidal thoughts prior to his disappearance .
In an effort to support the ongoing search, Valona's family launched a GoFundMe campaign to offset travel and accommodation expenses for those assisting in the search efforts. They have also established a Facebook group titled “Search Efforts for Bret Valona” to coordinate information and updates. Authorities urge anyone with information about Valona’s whereabouts to contact the Walton County Sheriff’s Office at 850-892-8111 . Last Seen: Mar 1, 2025
