CA CA - Alan Douglas Visher, 12, Kings Canyon, 18 July 1962

[heartanium]

Alan Douglas Visher​

Namus MP148200
Sex: Male
D.L.C: July 18, 1962
Location: Kings Canyon, Fresno County, California
D.O.B: February 7, 1950 (source)
Race: White / Caucasian
Age: 12
Height: 4' 0" - 4' 10" (48 - 58 Inches)
Weight: 75 - 100 lbs
Eye Color: Unknown
Hair Color: Unknown
Clothing: Last seen wearing wide-brim straw hat, brownish shirt, blue jeans, redwing boots
Circumstances: On July 18, 1962, Alan Visher, approximately 12 years old at the time when he went missing, was hiking with his mother, sister, and two brothers in Kings Canyon National Park. They were part of a larger group of 50 people that were participating in a week-long backcountry outing led by the Sierra Club. Alan was last seen walking in the middle of the group of hikers at or near Dog Creek in Tehipite Valley, (36.946813°, -118.688240°). At approximately 7:00pm that evening, after the whole group arrived in Simpson Meadow to setup camp, it was realized that no one had seen Alan since approximately 2:00pm. A week-long, multi-agency search resulted in no finding of Alan.

Agency Info:
National Park Service - Sequoia and Kings Canyon
Phone: (559) 565-4228
Agency Case Number: NP25222692
Matt Smith, Law Enforcement Park Ranger

Case Media:
"Physician's Son Disappears in Kings Canyon," The Berkeley Gazette, June 20, 1962, pg 1.

• His address and his mothers address was listed as 1554 Campus Drive, Berkeley, CA
• His fathers faddress is listed as 28 Hillcrest Road, Berkeley, CA
• He was scheduled attend Garfield Junior High School in the fall

"Club Halts Hunt for Boy," The Berkeley Gazette, July 25, 1962, pg 1.

"Doctor's Son Vanishes On Hike in Mountains," Evensville Press, July 25, 1962, pg 15.

• His grandparents were Mrs. and Mr. John W. Visher of 510 Mt Pleasant Road, Evensville, IN
• Alan had experiance hiking as a member of the Boy Scouts
• He was last seen walking alone between hikers in the front and the back of the group. Searchers believed he knew better than to wander off the trail.
• Searchers thought he may have vanished near a footbridge across a mountain stream. It was theorized he may have slipped off the bridge while crossing or fell into the stream while taking a drink.
• Bloodhounds were unable to pick up his scent, leading investigators to believe he fell in

"Search Futile for Grandson of Local Couple," Evansville Courier and Press, July 25, 1962, pg 19.

"Memorial for Boy Lost in Sierra," The Berkeley Gazette, July 31, 1962, pg 1.

• Alan had just graduated from Hillside Elementary School

Sward, Susan "Bay Area psychiatrist Dr. John Visher dies," April 29, 2009.

 

[snooptroop88]

This was a 10-day pack trip with the Sierra Club. Looked up some newspaper clippings, Alan from Berkeley, his father a psychiatrist. There was a thorough search done.

Find the Sierra Club aspect interesting in light of one of Zodiac's cards (mentions Sierra Club, "sought victim 12"):

And this note in one of his letters:
"I am not sick. I am insane. But that will not stop the game"

Was wondering if Alan might be the Chipps Island John Doe, but that's 1968 and they're estimating the remains in that case were there up to 2 years. If it could be a significantly longer period, I'd still wonder. Plus, I would think the remains may have been moved. Berkeley about 35 mins from Pittsburg CA/Chipps Island.

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

Is it highly likely in this atmosphere at King's Canyon that Alan had an accident, but still was not found? Looking now for information on King's Canyon, I know the terrain is rugged, yes, but they did a massive search and knew the exact route. Seeing that group hikes are generally safer.