Richard James Butts Missing Person Case

Jan 24, 2026

Jan 24, 2026

Richard

James Butts

43

36

5'9 inches

161 lbs

White

Male

In the small town of Soldotna, Alaska, the story of Richard James Butts, a 36-year-old man, took a sorrowful turn on November 16, 2018. On that day, following a disagreement with family members, Richard left his home on Dawn Drive. A friend, seeing him walking, offered him a ride to a local Fred Meyer store. Surveillance footage from the store captured what would become the last known images of him. The video showed Richard entering the store near the garden center around 2:14 p.m. and leaving through the main entrance about twenty minutes later, carrying a large brown paper bag. After this, he was not seen or heard from again, marking the beginning of a painful period of uncertainty for his loved ones. The days turned into weeks, and then into years, with no sign of Richard. His case was added to the list of Alaska's cold cases, a collection of unresolved disappearances and homicides that cast a long shadow over the vast and rugged landscape of the state. For his family and the community, the lack of answers was a persistent ache. The Central Kenai Peninsula, where Soldotna is located, has seen a number of such unexplained disappearances over the years, each one leaving a void in the lives of those left behind. Richard's case was a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the deep pain of not knowing the fate of a loved one. The long wait for answers came to a somber end on May 22, 2023. On that day, human remains were discovered in a wooded area along the Soldotna Creek floodplain, about 200 yards from the Sterling Highway. Personal items found with the remains confirmed that they belonged to Richard Butts. According to the Soldotna Police Department, initial observations at the scene did not suggest foul play, though the investigation remained ongoing. The discovery, while tragic, finally brought a degree of closure to a case that had remained a painful mystery for over four years. The overview of this case is one of a man who vanished after a mundane trip to a local store, leading to a lengthy period of anguish for his family and community, which concluded with the heartbreaking discovery of his remains.

Nov 16, 2018

Soldotna

Alaska

Soldotna

Alaska State Troopers

907-269-5511

Yes

07/02/2026