Richard Dietrich, 61, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was reported missing to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office on July 10, 2026, after family members realized they had not heard from him since January 1, 2026. His prolonged silence was out of character and raised immediate concern.

Family members say his phone was disconnected and that friends, relatives and neighbors have not seen or heard from him since the beginning of the year. He is described as white, 5 feet 10 inches to 5 feet 11 inches, 170 to 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. The sheriff’s office is handling the investigation and has circulated information seeking public leads.

There is a large gap between the date he was last heard from and the date he was reported missing; that gap and the disconnected phone are key unresolved issues in the case. If anyone knew Richard, saw him after January 1, 2026, or has information about his whereabouts, please come forward.