Richard Harvell, a 67-year-old resident of Boron, California, was last seen on October 15, 2015, in Kern County. Harvell, a Vietnam War veteran, was camping with a friend in the Mojave Desert at the foot of the Tehachapi Mountains when a powerful thunderstorm struck the area late in the evening.
The storm triggered a significant flash flood, sending a deluge of mud, water, and debris down the mountainside. While inside their camping trailer near 150th Street and Highgate Avenue, Harvell and his friend witnessed the rapidly rising water. In an attempt to move his truck to safer ground, Harvell ventured out into the knee-deep, fast-moving water. Tragically, he was struck by a boulder, knocked off his feet, and swept away by the powerful current of mud and water. His friend was unable to help due to the speed and force of the flash flood.
An extensive search for Harvell was launched by the Kern County Sheriff's Department, with family and friends also participating. The search efforts, which included the use of cadaver dogs, were at times hampered by the severe weather conditions. The area where Harvell was last seen had been inundated with up to six feet of muck. Despite the thorough search, Richard Harvell's body has never been recovered.
Harvell was described as a man who was comfortable in the rugged desert environment and had survival skills. A father of six and the youngest of fifteen siblings, he worked in construction, building fences, and enjoyed spending his time in wilderness areas. Another individual who died in the same flood was recovered, but Harvell remains missing.
Last Seen: Oct 15, 2015
