Charles Raymond Gauthier, known as Smokey, was 86 and living with dementia at the Richmond Residential Care Facility when he wandered away in the early morning hours of March 27, 2001. He was last seen between 4:00 and 7:00 a.m. and later spotted walking along M-35 near the Empire Iron Mine without his medication and not dressed for the weather, possibly wearing only light brown dress pants and a flannel shirt and likely wearing a sterling silver ring stamped DAD. His reddish-brown dress shoes were missing from his closet.

The Michigan State Police from the Negaunee Post led an extensive search that included K-9 teams, Marquette County Search and Rescue, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, using foot teams, ATVs and air support around Palmer, Michigan. Shoe prints believed to be his ended abruptly beside fresh tire tracks, prompting the working theory that he may have been picked up by a passing motorist, though no further evidence or witnesses have been found. He is described as Native American, 5 feet 4 inches, about 130 pounds, with gray hair, brown eyes, a scar on his abdomen and a scar across his nose.

Anyone who saw Charles that morning or who has information about a pickup on M-35 near the Empire Iron Mine is asked to come forward.