AZ AZ - Joseph Edward Doerfler, 24, Luke AFB, 16 Mar 1981

[apearn]

Missing Person / NamUs #MP38173
Joseph Edward Doerfler, Male, White / Caucasian
Date of Last Contact March 16, 1981
Missing From Luke AFB, Arizona

Missing Age 24 Years
Height 6' 1" (73 Inches)
Weight 196 lbs

Location Luke Air Force Base, Maricopa County Arizona

Circumstances of Disappearance
Joseph failed to report to work on 16 Mar 81 at Luke AFB, AZ. His motorcycle was found on the side of the road near Blythe, CA shortly after his disappearance.

Hair Color Brown
Eye Color Brown

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Joseph's family is still looking for him and they have provided DNA for his case.
His home town is Trenton Michigan

Joseph was associated with a religious group called The Way.

 

[apearn]

Joseph has 6 Rule Outs listed in NamUs:
UP6481
UP6745
UP6474
UP6530
UP6513
UP6639

 

[apearn]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) aka "Mt. Veeder Man"

There are some problems with this but also a couple curious matching things:

Skeletal remains found on a secluded hillside residence while property was being surveyed for new owner. Scene appeared to be at least 10 to 15 years old. Skeletal remains spread out over 100 feet on hillside down a deer trail. Evidence of animal bites to skull. Ruger Bearcat .22 caliber revolver discovered under body. Gun traced to burglary in Arizona. Smirnoff Vodka bottle and Budweiser Beer cans also on scene. Dates on bottle and cans were lotted to 1981. 22 caliber ammo found in a handmade leather backpack. Single gunshot wound found on the right side of head. Lower jaw missing. Numerous bones found but not a complete skeleton. Totality of circumstances during investigation led investigators to believe that this was a suicide by handgun.

 

[apearn]

I can't edit the original post but I need to add that the DNA sample for Joseph is not complete but one is in progress.

 

[Richard]

Joseph Edward Doerfler, 24
Missing since 16 March 1981

missingveterans.com

 

[Nate_Bro]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

 

[Lliska91]

This was my mom’s older brother who I never met. We still don’t know what happened to him. I was able to find the people he was living with at the time he disappeared. Tried to contact them but they never replied to me.

He was believed to have been involved in a cult, called “The Way” and living in a house with other cult members when he went missing. And supposedly he had expressed an interest in leaving very soon before he disappeared.

 

[Nate_Bro]

This was my mom’s older brother who I never met. We still don’t know what happened to him. I was able to find the people he was living with at the time he disappeared. Tried to contact them but they never replied to me.

He was believed to have been involved in a cult, called “The Way” and living in a house with other cult members when he went missing. And supposedly he had expressed an interest in leaving very soon before he disappeared.

Interesting. Were the people you contacted from the cult as well? If so you're probably on some kind of list now.....

 

[Richard]

Joseph Edward Doerfler was a young man who failed to report to work at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona on March 16, 1981. Shortly after his disappearance, his motorcycle was found on the side of a road in either New Mexico or Blythe, California.

The United States Air Force's Office of Special Investigations is investigating his case and has him under their Missing Persons/Deserters list. Few details are available in his case.

LINK:
Joseph Edward Doerfler

 

[Lliska91]

Interesting. Were the people you contacted from the cult as well? If so you're probably on some kind of list now.....

Yes, they were. But I don’t think they have any affiliation with it any longer. It was odd they never got back to me, but I didn’t force the issue out of fear.

 

[Lliska91]

These are photos of correspondences from when Joseph went missing. The first photo is a a letter from the Air Force to Joseph's parents stating his motorcycle was found on the side of a highway near Blythe, CA, and that the CA Highway Patrol was helping to investigate the case.

The second two photos are of a letter that was sent by Joseph's sister to a US Senator requesting help regarding this matter. Interestingly, in this letter, she stated that when Joseph's father called the CA Highway Patrol, they knew nothing of his name or his case or a motorcycle being found on March 15.