On a cold and snowy January 14, 2020, 38-year-old Matthew Warren Dean, a resident of Neah Bay and an enrolled member of the Makah Indian Tribe, set out to drive to Port Angeles, Washington. He was driving a family member's white 2007 Toyota Camry through the challenging weather that had brought heavy snowfall to the Olympic Peninsula. His family last heard from him that morning, but concern mounted when he never arrived at his destination.
The region was blanketed in snow, with some areas receiving nearly two feet, creating treacherous conditions for any traveler. It was under this heavy white veil that Matthew's journey took an unknown turn, marking the beginning of a prolonged and painful mystery for his loved ones and community.
Later that same day, the Toyota Camry Matthew had been driving was discovered abandoned in a ditch along Highway 112, near milepost 26, about ten miles southeast of Clallam Bay. The vehicle appeared to have left the road during the intense snowstorm. A passerby noticed the car and reported seeing a single set of footprints leading away from the vehicle, heading west back in the direction of Neah Bay. When law enforcement arrived, there was no sign of Matthew. His family was notified, and they officially reported him missing the following evening. This discovery prompted an immediate response, with Clallam County Sheriff's deputies beginning a search and canvassing nearby homes, but the severe weather conditions severely hampered their initial efforts.
In the weeks that followed, extensive searches were conducted in an attempt to locate Matthew. On one occasion, about 15 search-and-rescue personnel from Clallam, Kitsap, and Grays Harbor counties, along with four scent-dog teams and a drone, scoured the area near where his car was found. Despite these exhaustive efforts, no new evidence was uncovered. The footprints leading from his car into the snow were the last trace of him. The overview of the case is one of a sudden and perplexing disappearance in the midst of a severe weather event. With no further leads or signs of his whereabouts, Matthew Dean's case remains an unsolved and open investigation, leaving a community to wonder what happened after he walked away from his vehicle into the snow-covered landscape.Last Seen: Jan 14, 2020
