William "Wil" Hendrick, a 25-year-old Caucasian male, was a theater student at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho, with a promising future. On the cold winter night of January 10, 1999, his life took a tragic and mysterious turn when he vanished from a party. That evening, Hendrick attended a gathering at a friend's apartment where two different social groups were present.
Known to be protective of his friends, he had become concerned about a friend's troubles with her boyfriend who was at a separate party in the same building. Hendrick, who had been drinking, was last seen in the early morning hours.
The following day, when Hendrick did not return home, his partner of five years, Jerry Schutz, grew worried. His friends and family began a search, and his car was discovered parked downtown a week after he went missing. Inside the unlocked vehicle were his wallet, his portfolio of artwork, and his work keys, items Schutz was certain he would not have left behind. The driver's seat was pushed all the way back, suggesting someone larger than Hendrick had last driven the car, and there was mud caked on the inside of the wheel wells. Despite a thorough search of the car, no clear evidence of foul play, such as blood or hair, was found.
The investigation into Hendrick's disappearance was complex, involving the Moscow Police Department, Idaho State Police, the Latah County Sheriff's Office, and the FBI. Investigators explored numerous leads and interviewed many individuals who were at the party. One theory was that Hendrick may have been the victim of a hate crime, as he was openly gay. Several persons of interest emerged over the years. One was a former employee of Schutz's shuttle company who had been fired two months prior after directing an anti-gay slur at him. This individual was a truck driver who left for Florida on a work-related trip on the morning Hendrick disappeared. Another person of interest was a hitchhiker this truck driver had picked up in Texas who reportedly had a history of animosity towards gay people. Investigators also looked into a downstairs neighbor who reported an intoxicated Hendrick had mistakenly entered his apartment that night but left peacefully.
For more than three years, Hendrick's whereabouts remained a painful mystery. Then, in September 2002, hunters discovered a human skull and jawbone in a remote, wooded area in Latah County. Dental records confirmed the remains belonged to William Hendrick. Due to the limited remains, a definitive cause of death could not be determined, but his death was officially ruled a homicide. Law enforcement officials believe that Hendrick knew his attacker and that the person who disposed of his body was familiar with the rural area where he was found. Despite the ongoing investigation and the identification of several potential suspects, no arrests have ever been made in the murder of Wil Hendrick. The case remains a haunting cold case for the community of Moscow, Idaho.
