Virgil Eugene Bonham Jr., age 38, was last seen on November 5, 1978, at Folsom Lake, California. Bonham had gone boating with his friend Arnold Tittel. The two men were seen earlier that day at a service station around 12:30 p.m., and were expected to return by 5:00 p.m. When they did not return, authorities began a search.
At 3:00 p.m., another boater spotted their 12-foot fiberglass boat adrift and intact in the middle of Folsom Lake, but both Bonham and Tittel were missing. Their car, parked nearby, still contained personal belongings, except for their cigarettes and lighters, as both were heavy smokers. The day of their disappearance was overcast but otherwise calm, with good conditions for boating, and both men were described as strong swimmers.
Despite extensive searches, neither Bonham nor Tittel were ever found, and they are presumed to have drowned. However, their bodies were never recovered, and their case remains unsolved.
Last Seen: Nov 05, 1978
