Franklin Joeseph Little Bear was 18 years old when he disappeared from Mobridge, South Dakota, in 1980. NamUs lists him as missing from Mobridge with a date of last contact of August 1, 1980, while the Bureau of Indian Affairs profile and reward flyer describe him as last seen in December 1980 at or near the Main Street Bus Depot in Mobridge. Because public sources differ and the case information notes that the exact date of last contact is unknown, the safest understanding is that Franklin’s
final confirmed period of contact was in 1980, with the precise date unresolved. His case remains open, and the BIA Office of Justice Services Missing and Murdered Unit continues to seek information.
Franklin is American Indian/Alaska Native and is affiliated with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Public case summaries describe him as a young Native American man with brown hair and hazel eyes; physical estimates vary by source, with NamUs API data giving a height range of 5 feet 4 inches to 5 feet 8 inches and a weight range of 150 to 200 pounds, while the BIA reward flyer lists him as 5 feet 4 inches and 120 pounds. The Charley Project lists him as 5 feet 7 inches and 160 pounds, illustrating that some publicly available details have changed or differ across reporting sources.
The central account of Franklin’s disappearance is that he was seen boarding a Greyhound or other transportation bus in Mobridge with a female companion. The bus was reportedly headed toward Minneapolis, Minnesota. Family later received information suggesting that Franklin may have continued from Minneapolis to Chicago, Illinois. These details have left investigators and loved ones with a difficult trail that spans multiple cities and depends heavily on memories and reports from many years ago.
A later contact may have occurred sometime in 1983 or 1984, when Franklin reportedly either wrote or called home to check on his family. According to public case summaries, he is believed to have expressed love for his family during that contact. The person who received that letter or call has since passed away, and the exact date and details of that contact are not known. Because of that, the information is vague and should be treated carefully rather than as a firm timeline.
Franklin has not been publicly reported as found alive or deceased. The available case data does not list a resolution status of Alive or Deceased, and the BIA profile lists the case status as open. This means his disappearance remains an active missing person case in public records, and his family and community are still without the answers they deserve.
The BIA Missing and Murdered Unit has offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to Franklin Little Bear’s location. Tips may be submitted to the BIA OJS Missing and Murdered Unit by calling 1-833-560-2065, emailing or texting BIAMMU with the tip to 847411. The case agent identified in BIA materials is Special Agent Tyler Little Finger.Last Seen: Aug 1, 1980
