Earl Ashworth Iii Missing Person Case

Jan 24, 2026

Jan 24, 2026

Earl

Ashworth Iii

63

56

6'2 inches

185 lbs

White

Male

In the vast and rugged landscape of Alaska, a 56-year-old Palmer resident named Earl "Rocky" Ashworth III vanished on August 10, 2018. That day, he and four friends made their way to explore a gold mine near mile marker 56 on the Seward Highway, south of Anchorage. While his companions descended into the mine, Ashworth opted to wait for them above ground with his faithful ten-year-old dog, Cruiser. When his friends reemerged, they found Cruiser alone; Ashworth was nowhere in sight. He was last seen at approximately 5:00 p.m. wearing a blue t-shirt with cutoff sleeves and an American Eagle logo, along with blue jeans and rubber boots. His sudden disappearance from the campsite marked the beginning of a painful and prolonged mystery for his loved ones. Immediately following his friends' report, Alaska State Troopers conducted an initial search of the area, but they found no trace of the missing man. The search efforts quickly intensified, drawing in volunteers from the Alaska Mountain Rescue Group, two separate canine search teams, and a helicopter crew to scour the challenging terrain near Hope. Despite these extensive and thorough searches of the area, not a single clue to Ashworth's whereabouts was discovered. His mother, Joyce Farley, driven by a desperate need for answers, even went to the remote site herself just two days after his disappearance, calling out his name into the wilderness only to be met with an echoing silence. The area was described as a steep gully, making the search conditions difficult and dangerous. The weeks and months that followed brought no new information or updates in the investigation. The official search efforts were eventually suspended, leaving his family in a state of uncertainty. Ashworth, also known as Rocky, was a white male with blond hair and blue eyes, standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 185 pounds. The circumstances of his case remain perplexing; he disappeared from a location where he was supposed to be safe, with his loyal dog staying behind as the only witness. The case is a haunting example of how a person can vanish in the wilderness, leaving behind only questions and an enduring sense of loss for those who await any news.

Aug 10, 2018

Anchorage

Alaska

Anchorage

Alaska State Troopers

907-269-5511

07/26/2026