On February 15, 1963 16 year old Edward Dean Eskridge and his 15 year old brother Richard left their grandparents' home to go rabbit hunting on White Mountain. They were travelling in a small car with foreign plates. They were reported missing that evening after they failed to return to their grandparents' home. Search parties made up of volunteers were immediate, including aerial searches, and the wrecked car was found upside down 29 miles north of Green River on a very rural country road. Richard was found severely injured but alive beside the car. Edward had taken off his parka, given it to his younger brother, lit a fire, and told Richard he was going to go for help. The temperature that evening had dropped to 15 degrees above zero, and Edward was in his shirt sleeves. There was no sign of Edward. Searchers, more than 200 people from 4 counties, including prison inmates and volunteers, kept looking for a week to try to find Edward.
Four days after the accident, Richard died in the hospital as a result of being paralyzed from a back injury from the crash and contracting pneumonia in the cold. On Feb. 22, Edward's footprints were found in a dry wash that had been protected from most snowfall. The footprints went south and west of the accident scene, and were in the opposite direction from where search parties had concentrated their efforts. Searches continued their efforts for 8 more days. On Day 10, the WY governor and the sheriff agreed to continue the search for Edward's remains, as they agreed there was now no hope of him being found alive. The governor called in the WY National Guard to continue the search as the area was so remote.
As a result of Edward's death/disappearance, local search and rescue groups were formed in Wyoming, especially in the Rock Springs area. One year after Edward's disappearance, a memorial marker was placed 3 miles from where Edward's footprints were last seen. His grandfather continued looking for years for Edward, until he was no longer able to do so. As of November 2026, Edward Dean Eskridge remains missing and has never been found.
cowboystatedaily.com
Pictured: Edward Eskridge and one of the original searchers.
Four days after the accident, Richard died in the hospital as a result of being paralyzed from a back injury from the crash and contracting pneumonia in the cold. On Feb. 22, Edward's footprints were found in a dry wash that had been protected from most snowfall. The footprints went south and west of the accident scene, and were in the opposite direction from where search parties had concentrated their efforts. Searches continued their efforts for 8 more days. On Day 10, the WY governor and the sheriff agreed to continue the search for Edward's remains, as they agreed there was now no hope of him being found alive. The governor called in the WY National Guard to continue the search as the area was so remote.
As a result of Edward's death/disappearance, local search and rescue groups were formed in Wyoming, especially in the Rock Springs area. One year after Edward's disappearance, a memorial marker was placed 3 miles from where Edward's footprints were last seen. His grandfather continued looking for years for Edward, until he was no longer able to do so. As of November 2026, Edward Dean Eskridge remains missing and has never been found.
The Boy Never Found Still Haunts Wyoming Searcher 63 Years Later
When a 16-year-old boy went missing in the Wyoming Wilderness in 1963, a desperate search was launched. More than 200 looked for Edward Eskridge,…
cowboystatedaily.com
Pictured: Edward Eskridge and one of the original searchers.
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