In the early morning hours of October 3, 2019, 66-year-old Carl E. Steffler was last seen in Kaunakakai on the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance began to unfold when the harbor master discovered some of Steffler's personal belongings at the end of a catwalk on the Kaunakakai Pier at approximately 6:00 a.m. and turned them over to the police.
Concern for his welfare grew when his social worker contacted authorities, reporting that she had not seen him all day. A check of his residence showed everything to be intact, though a neighbor mentioned hearing Steffler moving around in his home at about 1:00 a.m. that morning.
A significant development in the case came from surveillance footage from the Kaunakakai Harbor. The video, captured at around 3:30 a.m., showed a man matching Steffler's description walking to the end of the catwalk. The footage then shows the man setting some items down, entering the water, and swimming south toward the harbor's opening until he is no longer in the camera's view. The camera did not capture him returning. The personal items found by the harbor master were located in the same spot where the man in the video had left them. At the time he was last seen, it is believed he may have been wearing a bright green or white t-shirt and shorts of an unknown color.
An extensive search was launched involving multiple agencies, including the Maui Police Department, Maui Fire Department, the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the U.S. Coast Guard. Search efforts involved ground crews, divers, jet ski operators, and multiple aircraft, including helicopters and planes. The search was challenged by winds of 17 mph and seas with swells up to 6 feet. In the days following his disappearance, authorities noted that Steffler had previously 'exhibited suicidal ideations.' An overview of the case reveals that despite a multi-agency search and a clear timeline from surveillance footage of him entering the water, no signs of Carl Steffler were found. His case is still considered unsolved.Last Seen: Oct 3, 2019
