Dennis Wasson Missing Person Case

Mar 26, 2018

Aug 13, 2019

Dennis

Wasson

76

51

75 inches

76 inches

260 lbs

300 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the small town of Snowflake, Arizona, a disquieting mystery began to unfold on the morning of December 20, 2000. Dennis Reed Wasson, a 51-year-old man known affectionately as "Reed," performed a routine and fatherly duty: he walked his son to the school bus stop. This seemingly ordinary act would be the last confirmed sighting of him. Wasson, a talented potter and artist, was a physically imposing man, standing between 6 feet 3 inches and 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing between 260 and 300 pounds. He was a distinctive figure in the community with his long brown hair often worn in a ponytail or a braid, and a full red and grey beard and mustache. His sudden and unexplained absence from his home was alarming, setting in motion a search that would span decades and leave a family with unanswered questions. The circumstances surrounding Wasson's disappearance were particularly baffling to both his family and law enforcement. After he was reported missing by his wife, an initial investigation of their home revealed nothing amiss. Crucially, all of his personal belongings were found inside the residence, including his wallet, vehicle, keys, credit cards, and approximately $1,000 in cash. Even the family's Dalmatian was found unharmed at the house. The scene left no indication that he had planned to leave, deepening the mystery. The Snowflake-Taylor Police Department initiated a search of the area. Footprints were discovered leading towards a nearby canyon, but a thorough search by the sheriff's department search and rescue team yielded no signs of Wasson. While the possibility of suicide was considered, it was largely dismissed by his family, who described him as a gentle and kind person whose spiritual beliefs would not have allowed for self-harm. Over the years, the case has grown cold, yet the hope for answers has not entirely faded. Wasson's mother, Ruthe, remained adamant that her son would never have voluntarily abandoned his family, especially his young son. The community rallied in support, with the local Chamber of Commerce setting up a reward fund to encourage tips and raise awareness. An unsettling parallel emerged about three years later when another Snowflake resident, June Goodman, who lived within sight of the Wasson home, also vanished under strangely similar circumstances, leaving all her personal effects behind. Although police found no direct evidence linking the two cases, the similarities were striking to some, including Wasson's mother. The investigation into what happened to Dennis Reed Wasson remains open, a haunting and unresolved story of a man who seemingly vanished into thin air, leaving behind a life and a family still waiting for a resolution.

Dec 20, 2000

Snowflake

Arizona

Navajo County

85937

32125

Snowflake-Taylor Police Department

Snowflake

Arizona

Navajo County

85937

Larry Scarber

Chief of Police

602 South Main Street, Arizona

9285367500

Local

Law Enforcement

2001-0015

2000-12-22

Snowflake-Taylor Police Department

10451

Brown

Brown

Brown

08/03/2026