CO CO - Francis Joseph Houle, 46 Colorado Springs, 1 August 1979

[chaddylex]

New to Charley Project

Francis Joseph Houle – The Charley Project

Francis Joseph Houle​

• Missing Since 08/01/1979
• Missing From Colorado Springs, Colorado
• Classification Missing
• Sex Male
• Race Native American
• Age46 years old
• Height and Weight5'8 - 6'0, 180 - 200 pounds
• Distinguishing Characteristics Native American male. Graying black hair, brown eyes. Houle is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota. His nickname is Frank. He has the following tattoos: the name "Rose" on one arm, the name "Sweet" on one nipple and the word "Sour" on the other nipple. He wears prescription eyeglasses.

Details of Disappearance​

Houle's family last heard from him when he wrote a letter to his family in August 1979. He was working at a ranch in Colorado Springs, Colorado at the time. He has never been heard from again. Few details are available in his case. Both Colorado Springs and Williston, North Dakota police are investigating.

Investigating Agency​

• Colorado Springs Police Department 719-444-7000
• Williston Police Department 701-577-1212

Source Information​

• North Dakota Missing Persons
• NamUs

Updated 1 time since October 12, 2004. Last updated November 8, 2022; casefile added.

 

[chaddylex]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

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

www.namus.gov

Francis was added to NamUs in 2021.
He has no exclusions/rule outs listed.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Francis Joseph Houle – The Charley Project

 

[mlhenn]

New details emerge in 50-year-old cold case of man missing from Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - After nearly 50 years of Francis Joseph Houle being considered missing, new information has been uncovered. Samantha

krdo.com

Feb 4 2025
After nearly 50 years of Francis Joseph Houle being considered missing, new information has been uncovered.

Houle found the property card for one of the letter's return addresses in Security, which points to him possibly living in a home owned by the VA.

The CBI and the MMIR task force helped her to find the past owners and landlords for the Monterey Drive address. A couple that owned a ranch in Cañon City also owned the property at the same time Francis Houle sent letters from that address.

Now knowing that her grandfather was a rancher, Houle believes he may have worked for them.

She tells KRDO13 she asked the CSPD detective on the case to interview that woman, however, they have yet to get back to her.

 

[Pennysmom1]

Francis Houle, Missing from Colorado since 1979.

A blog about the many missing, murdered, and unidentified Native/Indigenous/Aboriginal women of the United States and Canada. Say Their Names!

www.justicefornativepeople.com

<<Tribal Information: Francis is enrolled with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota.>>

Colorado Cold Case Files - Case Detail: Francis Houle

Feb 4, 2025

https://kdvr.com/news/local/granddaughter-continues-search-for-grandfather-on-colorado-missing-persons-day/

<<Via Zoom, Houle said Francis had migrated from Spokane, Washington, in the mid-1970s to Colorado. He worked a variety of jobs and would often send letters back to his daughter, who is Samantha’s mother.>>

 

[Pennysmom1]

https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/mp-main.html?id=6529DMCO

Identifiers​

Dentals: Unknown
Fingerprints: Unknown
DNA: Unknown

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I wonder how far back LE can trace he was definitely seen. Did coworkers notice he suddenly went missing? What did his friends and coworkers at the time think happened to him?

He has a loving granddaughter:

Woman asks public for help years after grandpa vanishes in Colorado Springs

Tuesday marks Missing Persons Day in Colorado. A ceremony scheduled at the Colorado Capitol at 10 a.m. will honor more than 600 people who have gone missing.

www.koaa.com

In 2021, Houle's grandaughter reported him missing, more than 30 years later.

"I don't think my family had the tools, and I don't think they could come to the conclusion that their dad actually went missing," S said about the delay in reporting her grandpa missing.