CA Ronald Gale Sallee, 40, Madera, 02 September 1989

[LadyBadWolf]

Per NAMUS, Ronald was last seen in the Ansel Adams Wilderness in the Sierra Nevada on 09/02/1989.

Missing Person Case

The Charley Project:

Ronald Gale Sallee – The Charley Project

 

[LadyBadWolf]

Ronald was recently featured on The Vanished podcast and I couldn't find a thread for him here, so I hope I created it correctly!

Episodes

 

[LadyBadWolf]

Interesting takeaways from the podcast featuring an interview with Ronald's daughter, who was 6 at the time of his disappearance:

• Ronald disappeared on a camping/hiking trip over Labor Day weekend with a group of four. He allegedly fell into a small ravine/down a small hill at some point, after which he began acting oddly, according to the other members of the group. The group then became separated from Ron. They continued on to camp, at one point firing a gun into the air to let Ron know where they were. They never saw Ron again and reported him missing at the end of the weekend. Supposedly, Ron signed the group in that weekend, but I am not sure how that can be verified
• The original police report,case file, and evidence are missing and assumed lost. As such, even the names of the men Ronald went camping with are no longer known. One of the original pieces of evidences was Ronald's wallet.
• Ronald was known to be a functioning alcoholic and all of the men involved in the trip were known to use drugs. Ronald was reportedly acting oddly in the days leading up to the trip, including calling his sister in the middle of the night demanding she pay him back some money or he'd kill her.
• His daughter is actively looking for answers and assumes he did not live past that Labor Day weekend.

Anyone who also listened, please let me know if I missed anything important or misremembered anything and I will correct it. I was trying to remember the details on the fly!

 

[Coffee56]

Ronald Gale Sallee

 

[Meggalo]

Interesting takeaways from the podcast featuring an interview with Ronald's daughter, who was 6 at the time of his disappearance:

• Ronald disappeared on a camping/hiking trip over Labor Day weekend with a group of four. He allegedly fell into a small ravine/down a small hill at some point, after which he began acting oddly, according to the other members of the group. The group then became separated from Ron. They continued on to camp, at one point firing a gun into the air to let Ron know where they were. They never saw Ron again and reported him missing at the end of the weekend. Supposedly, Ron signed the group in that weekend, but I am not sure how that can be verified
• The original police report,case file, and evidence are missing and assumed lost. As such, even the names of the men Ronald went camping with are no longer known. One of the original pieces of evidences was Ronald's wallet.
• Ronald was known to be a functioning alcoholic and all of the men involved in the trip were known to use drugs. Ronald was reportedly acting oddly in the days leading up to the trip, including calling his sister in the middle of the night demanding she pay him back some money or he'd kill her.
• His daughter is actively looking for answers and assumes he did not live past that Labor Day weekend.

Anyone who also listened, please let me know if I missed anything important or misremembered anything and I will correct it. I was trying to remember the details on the fly!

I'm not sure if I'm doing this right but Hello! I'm his daughter! I thank you for posting him on here and I'm not sure what took me so long to get on here. I wanted to update you with a little of information. I FOUND THE ORIGINAL POLICE REPORT! My mother had a copy buried in all her paperwork. I know their names but I know literally nothing about them currently. If you have questions ask away I'm sure there is more than I can think to tell you.

 

[Meggalo]

I've also recently come across a much better photo of what he looked like at the time of his disappearance and the man I remember. He is the one on the left.

 

[Meggalo]

Interesting takeaways from the podcast featuring an interview with Ronald's daughter, who was 6 at the time of his disappearance:

• Ronald disappeared on a camping/hiking trip over Labor Day weekend with a group of four. He allegedly fell into a small ravine/down a small hill at some point, after which he began acting oddly, according to the other members of the group. The group then became separated from Ron. They continued on to camp, at one point firing a gun into the air to let Ron know where they were. They never saw Ron again and reported him missing at the end of the weekend. Supposedly, Ron signed the group in that weekend, but I am not sure how that can be verified
• The original police report,case file, and evidence are missing and assumed lost. As such, even the names of the men Ronald went camping with are no longer known. One of the original pieces of evidences was Ronald's wallet.
• Ronald was known to be a functioning alcoholic and all of the men involved in the trip were known to use drugs. Ronald was reportedly acting oddly in the days leading up to the trip, including calling his sister in the middle of the night demanding she pay him back some money or he'd kill her.
• His daughter is actively looking for answers and assumes he did not live past that Labor Day weekend.

Anyone who also listened, please let me know if I missed anything important or misremembered anything and I will correct it. I was trying to remember the details on the fly!

I only have one small minor correction. This correction makes it even stranger however. He didn't call my aunt in the middle of the night. He called her while her son who suffered from cerebral palsy was suffering a seizure. She answered the phone and yelled for him to call 911 and hung up. He didn't do so instead he called back and threatened her on her answering machine. Denny was everyone's number 1 priority so for him not to do as she asked but continue his demands makes it even stranger.

 

[LadyBadWolf]

I only have one small minor correction. This correction makes it even stranger however. He didn't call my aunt in the middle of the night. He called her while her son who suffered from cerebral palsy was suffering a seizure. She answered the phone and yelled for him to call 911 and hung up. He didn't do so instead he called back and threatened her on her answering machine. Denny was everyone's number 1 priority so for him not to do as she asked but continue his demands makes it even stranger.

Thank you so much for your clarification and you are right - the mystery only expands upon itself.

 

[LadyBadWolf]

I'm not sure if I'm doing this right but Hello! I'm his daughter! I thank you for posting him on here and I'm not sure what took me so long to get on here. I wanted to update you with a little of information. I FOUND THE ORIGINAL POLICE REPORT! My mother had a copy buried in all her paperwork. I know their names but I know literally nothing about them currently. If you have questions ask away I'm sure there is more than I can think to tell you.

Welcome!! (Sorry, I am replying out of order!)

This is wonderful news and such a huge break! Do you have a next step planned?

 

[Meggalo]

Welcome!! (Sorry, I am replying out of order!)

This is wonderful news and such a huge break! Do you have a next step planned?

I don't honestly have a whole lot planned. I am talking to someone that is helping me to see if we can put faces to names at least. I don't honestly hold alot of faith in seeing any movement. I know I should and I really would love to see some resolution but as the one man band I've been for so long it gets tiring.

 

[LadyBadWolf]

I don't honestly have a whole lot planned. I am talking to someone that is helping me to see if we can put faces to names at least. I don't honestly hold alot of faith in seeing any movement. I know I should and I really would love to see some resolution but as the one man band I've been for so long it gets tiring.

I am so sorry - I can't even fathom how taxing this has been for you and your family over the years.

Fingers crossed that these men can at least be identified and located. It will be at least be a start! <3

Is there still a detective assigned to his case?

 

[Meggalo]

There is a detective assigned to the case however he seems very uninterested in the case every time I speak with him.

 

[apearn]

I just ran across this case on NamUs. Is there a photo of his tattoo? What branch of the military was he in? The photo is blurry but I'm thinking it's US Army

 

[KelseyDana]

I just ran across this case on NamUs. Is there a photo of his tattoo? What branch of the military was he in? The photo is blurry but I'm thinking it's US Army

View attachment 260910

@apearn, yes that's an army uniform. Since I can't see his chest, all I can deduce is that he was not in the infantry branch (as his mos, but could have been assigned to an infantry unit) since there is not a blue disc behind the insignia on his cap or lapels. The insignia one of his lapels would dictate what branch he's in but I can't make it out.

I'm not sure if I'm doing this right but Hello! I'm his daughter! I thank you for posting him on here and I'm not sure what took me so long to get on here. I wanted to update you with a little of information. I FOUND THE ORIGINAL POLICE REPORT! My mother had a copy buried in all her paperwork. I know their names but I know literally nothing about them currently. If you have questions ask away I'm sure there is more than I can think to tell you.

@Meggalo , you can request your father's military records since you're his next of kin. Here are the instructions for doing that: Access to Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF) - Veterans and Next-of-Kin. Follow the link titled 'Request Records Online with eVetRecs'. Additionally, you can request replacements of his medals here: Military Awards and Decorations. Any military sew shop would be willing to 'set up' his medals in a nice display case for you if that's something you want. I'm really sorry you're having to go through this and the detective is being so passive. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[Meggalo]

Thank you! I filled out the request and now I cross my fingers and wait. I had no idea that was an option and obviously I took a break from my research. I will update you all if and when I know more.

 

[Meggalo]

I just ran across this case on NamUs. Is there a photo of his tattoo? What branch of the military was he in? The photo is blurry but I'm thinking it's US Army

View attachment 260910

Hi his tattoo was of a sun on his left shoulder. I got a similar tattoo when I was 16. I don't have his but I can post mine so you have an idea.

 

[Caring1]

I'm not sure if I'm doing this right but Hello! I'm his daughter! I thank you for posting him on here and I'm not sure what took me so long to get on here. I wanted to update you with a little of information. I FOUND THE ORIGINAL POLICE REPORT! My mother had a copy buried in all her paperwork. I know their names but I know literally nothing about them currently. If you have questions ask away I'm sure there is more than I can think to tell you.

Does the original police report state the last known coordinates or approximate location before they split up and the other members of the group went on to the camp?

Do you know if your Dad is listed with NPF as missing in a national park? Sierra or Inyo National Forest Missing NPF - Explore

‘A Huge Mystery’: Skeleton Unearthed in Inyo National Forest on California’s 2nd-Highest Peak | KTLA

Skeleton found beneath California peak unearths a mystery

 

[kemo]

The skeleton found in Inyo National Forest was determined to have been an inmate from the Internment Camp for Japanese Civilians during World War II who disappeared during a fishing trip in 1945.

Ronald disappeared over 100 north of that.

 

[Atombudd]

www.facebook.com/RonaldSallee09021989