Nicholas Robert Patterson, 26, a member of the Atwamsini band of the Pit River Tribe, was last seen January 4, 2020, in the Hat Creek area of Shasta County, California. He was wearing a green hooded Nike sweatshirt and blue jeans and has tattoos of Three Salmon and the words Pit River on his left upper arm and shoulder. His family reported him missing on January 9, 2020, after losing contact.

The Shasta County Sheriff’s Office investigated and the family hired a private investigator, but there have been no significant developments and the case remains open. Patterson’s disappearance has had a deep impact on his family and community, who say they remain unable to complete traditional Indigenous activities associated with a family death. His case is included in work highlighting the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People crisis and the data and jurisdictional challenges that affects such cases.

If anyone knew Nicholas, saw him in the Hat Creek area around January 4, 2020, or has information that could help the family, please come forward.