Nicholas Robert Patterson, a 26-year-old member of the Atwamsini band of the Pit River Tribe, was last seen on January 4, 2020, in the Hat Creek area of Shasta County, California. He was wearing a green hooded Nike sweatshirt and blue jeans at the time of his disappearance. He has tattoos of Three Salmon and the words Pit River on his left upper arm/shoulder. Patterson's family reported him missing on January 9, 2020, after they lost contact with him.
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<br>Despite an investigation by the Shasta County Sheriff's Office and efforts by a private investigator hired by the family, there have been no significant developments in Patterson's case. His disappearance has left his family and community in a state of uncertainty, unable to complete traditional Indigenous activities associated with the death of a family member.
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<br>Patterson's case has drawn attention to the larger crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) in the United States. On March 20, 2021, approximately 120 people gathered at the U.S. District Court on Bechelli Lane for a vigil and rally organized to raise awareness about Patterson's disappearance and the MMIP issue. The event, described as "a sea of red," featured speeches, songs, chants, and prayers from various Indigenous community members.
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<br>Patterson's disappearance has been included in the Sovereign Bodies Institute's report on MMIP in Northern California, highlighting the ongoing data crisis and jurisdictional complexities surrounding missing Indigenous persons cases. His case remains open, with his family and community continuing to seek answers and closure.
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<br>Citations:
<br> https://shastascout.org/nick-patterson-one-more-missing-indigenous-man/
<br> https://namus.nij.ojp.gov/case/MP65402
<br> https://charleyproject.org/case/nicholas-robert-patterson
<br> https://nativenewsonline.net/currents/a-sea-of-red-vigil-held-for-missing-indigenous-man-in-northern-california
<br> https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2020/01/15/pit-river-tribe-member-reported-missing-shasta-county-sheriff-investigating/4479784002/
<br> https://www.crimesolverscentral.com/case/7850
<br> https://www.websleuths.com/forums/threads/ca-nicholas-patterson-26-lookout-hat-creek-4-jan-2020.497529/
<br> https://uncovered.com/cases/nicholas-patterson-hat-creek-ca
Last Seen: Jan 4, 2020
