Leslie Barlow Sr. Missing Person Case

Jan 24, 2026

Jan 24, 2026

Leslie

Barlow Sr.

79

52

5'6 inches

170 lbs

Native American

Male

In the vast and rugged landscape of Shonto, Arizona, within the Navajo Nation, a 52-year-old Vietnam veteran named Leslie Barlow Sr. was last seen in May of 1999. An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, Leslie was a man with black hair and brown eyes, standing at 5'6" and weighing around 170 pounds. The specific circumstances surrounding the day he vanished are shrouded in uncertainty, with very few details available to create a clear picture of his last known moments. His life, once rooted in his community and service to his country, transitioned into a prolonged and troubling silence that would go officially unnoticed for years. A particularly poignant aspect of Leslie Barlow Sr.'s case is the significant delay in him being reported as a missing person. It wasn't until November 29, 2002, more than three years after he was last seen, that an official report was filed. This substantial gap in time has undoubtedly complicated the investigation, as memories fade and potential evidence can be lost. There have been suggestions that he may have traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, sometime after his disappearance from Shonto, but this lead has never been substantiated. Despite being entered into the National Crime Information Center, the trail grew cold, leaving his family and community without answers. The investigation into the disappearance of Leslie Barlow Sr. is managed by the Navajo Police Department's Kayenta District. Over the decades, his case has remained unresolved, a lingering question in the heart of the Navajo Nation. The lack of concrete information and the passage of time have been significant obstacles for investigators. Despite the challenges, authorities continue to appeal to the public for any information that might shed light on what happened to Leslie Barlow Sr. after he was last seen in May of 1999. His case is a somber reminder of the many unresolved missing persons cases, particularly within Indigenous communities, and the enduring hope for answers and closure that persists for families who are left waiting.

May 01, 1999

Shonto

Arizona

Shonto

Navajo Police Departmen

928-697-5600

08/13/2026