John Daily Hammond, a 65-year-old resident of Thermopolis and a veteran of the Air Force, was last seen on November 6, 2021, in a remote area of Carbon County, Wyoming. He had gone on an overnight fishing and camping trip with friends to the Miracle Mile, a well-known fishing spot. The specific location where he was last seen is known as Walleye Bay, situated between the Seminoe and Pathfinder Reservoirs.
Hammond's friends reported that he had wandered off from their group without indicating his destination and they returned home without him. At the time of his disappearance, he was on foot, not adequately dressed for the weather conditions, and was not carrying a cell phone.
The circumstances surrounding Hammond's separation from his friends are not entirely clear. According to his sister, Georgeanne Hammond, there was confusion among the group he was with. It was suggested that the individuals in a separate vehicle believed Hammond had gotten a ride with his other friends when they left the river to go to their campsite. When they later went back to look for him, he was nowhere to be found. Numerous searches were conducted by the Carbon County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies, utilizing foot patrols, drones, and helicopters, but these initial efforts yielded no results. Hammond was described as being 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing about 195 pounds, with hazel eyes and curly, brown-gray hair. He was last seen wearing a baseball cap, a dark gray jacket, blue jeans, and brown suede shoes with tennis shoe soles.
For over a year, the case remained a mystery with few available details. Then, in May 2023, shed antler hunters discovered human remains near the Pedro Mountains in Carbon County. In June 2023, the Carbon County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the remains were those of John Hammond. Based on communications with law enforcement, his family believes he likely died from exposure to the elements. His family had reported him missing on November 11, 2021.
John Hammond was remembered by his family as a proud veteran with a talent for languages, having been recruited by the Air Force to study Russian. He was a lifelong reader and was often seen walking around his hometown of Thermopolis with a book. After his military service, he returned to Wyoming and remained close to his family.Last Seen: Nov 6, 2021
