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Bradley Hale Missing Person Case

Last seen in Bellingham, Washington on Oct 1, 2016

Victim Details

Jul 14, 2020

May 25, 2023

Bradley

Hale

45

35

72 inches

73 inches

160 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Oct 1, 2016

Bellingham

Washington

Whatcom County

No

87682

Bellingham Police Department

Bellingham

Washington

Whatcom County

98225

505 Grand Avenue, Washington

3607788800

Local

Law Enforcement

https://cob.org/gov/dept/police

16B44861

Bellingham Police Department

8340

Brown

Brown

Brown

Oct 13, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP71734) and 9 other sources
On October 1, 2016, 35-year-old Bradley J. Hale left his home in Bellingham, Washington, in what was described as a panicked state. The following day, he made a distressing phone call to his wife at approximately 5:00 p.m., stating that he was lost in the woods and wanted to return home. This was the last time anyone is known to have heard from him. Investigators were able to trace his cell phone signal to an area near the Plantation Rifle Range off Samish Way. Adding to the mystery, his vehicle was discovered abandoned at the North Lake Samish Shell gas station, which is in the same general vicinity as the cell phone pings. At the time of his disappearance, he was believed to be wearing a Carhartt jacket, blue jeans, and black and white Adidas shoes.

Bradley's disappearance prompted immediate concern and search efforts. Whatcom County Search and Rescue teams were deployed on multiple occasions to scour the dense, forested areas indicated by his last known location. In addition to the official searches, a large number of Brad's family members, friends, and concerned members of the community organized their own extensive searches of the region, hoping to find any sign of him. Information and photographs of Brad were widely circulated on social media, with a dedicated Facebook page created to share updates and gather any potential leads. He is described as a white male, standing at 6 feet to 6 feet 1 inch tall with a slim build, weighing around 160 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes and typically wears glasses. Distinctive features include a tattoo of a star on his hand between his thumb and forefinger, as well as other unspecified tattoos on his arm.

Bradley's loved ones have shared that he struggled with depression, anxiety, and alcoholism. Prior to his disappearance, he had reportedly expressed suicidal thoughts and was experiencing symptoms associated with alcohol withdrawal. Despite the exhaustive searches and the passage of time, no trace of Bradley has been found, and the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remain unresolved. The investigation into his case has been handled by the Bellingham Police Department, and his case remains a painful and unanswered question for his family and the community. The overview of this case is one of a man in a state of personal crisis who vanished after a final, desperate call, leaving behind only his car and a cell phone signal that led to an area that has so far refused to yield any further clues.
Last Seen: Oct 1, 2016

Links to Additional Sources (9)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Search for missing Bellingham resident Brad Hale continues
  • Bradley J. Hale - The Charley Project
  • Missing Person / NamUs #MP71734
  • Police searching for missing Bellingham man | king5.com
  • Northwest Washington Cold Cases | Bradley J. Hale Missing for 6 ...
  • Missing Bellingham man | News | lyndentribune.com
  • Missing Brad Hale - Facebook
  • Missing Brad Hale's post - Bellingham - Facebook
  • WA - Bradley Hale, 35, Bellingham, 1 Oct 2016 | Page 2 - Websleuths

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    77%Possible
    John Doe — Seattle, Washington - unidentified case UP16143
    John Doe — Seattle, Washington
    UP16143 • Found Sep 4, 2016
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 30–50 vs 35
    Race 100%White
    Location 81%79 mi away, same state
    TimingFound same day as last seen
    Height 100%6'0" vs 6'0"–6'1"

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    I’ve been following Bradley Hale’s case, and something that's been on my mind is the location of... ...Read More
    06/10/2023

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