WA WA - Bobby Panknin, 4, Stevens County, 3 August 1963

[sasha17]

Bobby Panknin was last seen on a hiking trip with his mother, Edna, and two brothers, Jim (age 6) and Bill (age 10), near their campsite at the now-closed Deep Lake Resort in Stevens County. Bill left the logging road they were walking on to check out a creek and Edna followed him, telling Jim and Bobby to wait on the road. But Jim didn't listen and followed the pair down to the creek, leaving Bobby alone. They were at the creek, 100-150 feet from the road, for about 5 minutes. When they returned, Bobby was gone.

An extensive search, involving bloodhounds and 4,000 volunteers, turned up no indication of his whereabouts, not even footprints. Dogs traced his scent for a couple of miles, but then lost it.

At the time of his disappearance, Bobby was 2'8", 30 pounds, with blond hair. He was wearing blue shorts and was barefoot.

The Doe Network: Case File 1386DFWA

Bobby Panknin – The Charley Project

In 1963, little Bobby Panknin vanished on a family camping trip

 

[artsy_ann]

He disappeared from a resort in Washington. Does anyone know what state his family actually lived in? Is there anyway he might have thought he was from California? Could the have lived in a town called California? California Street? Did they actually live in California?

 

[artsy_ann]

I just suggested a match to DoeNetwork... there is an unidentified LIVING man listed on Namus that I thought might possibly work. We shall see....

 

[sasha17]

He disappeared from a resort in Washington. Does anyone know what state his family actually lived in? Is there anyway he might have thought he was from California? Could the have lived in a town called California? California Street? Did they actually live in California?

The article I linked in the first post says they were from Washington state, from Spokane. Bobby's father later worked in Colville and the family moved to Elma sometime after that.

 

[artsy_ann]

Sorry, I missed that.
Now that I suggested the match, do you think namus will contact the family and get a profile made for Bobby?

 

[artsy_ann]

There is a California st in Spokane. I just saw it on Google maps. There are houses on it.

 

[sasha17]

There is a California st in Spokane. I just saw it on Google maps. There are houses on it.

Sorry, I missed what made you think he was somehow related to California or California Street?

 

[artsy_ann]

The unidentified living man says he thinks he was abducted from California.

 

[sasha17]

The unidentified living man says he thinks he was abducted from California.

Can you share a link to this? Thanks!

 

[artsy_ann]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

Please use caution... The man's name is listed in the profile... IDK why they would share that online. He's likely not Bobby. Just my best guess.

 

[CastlesBurning]

Bumping for Bobby as we approach the 57th anniversary of his disappearance

 

[Jake479]

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[ChatteringBirds]

How very sad.

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Bumping up case.

 

[spartanx]

Hopefully little Bobby will one day find out what happened to him, but most likely he was attacked by some wild animal, he quickly got scared and didn't even have time to scream...
rest in peace little one

 

[ChatteringBirds]

I can't imagine there will ever be an update but bumping case up one more time anyway.

 

[sasha17]

I can't imagine there will ever be an update but bumping case up one more time anyway.

Thanks for bumping. I think of Bobby often.

Spokesman-Review newspaper front page from Aug. 6, 1963: BobbyPanknin_1963_PageOne

Inside photo pages of the search, from the Spokesman-Review, Aug. 6, 1963: BobbyPanknin_1963_Inside

Bobby (the smallest boy) with his three older brothers: In 1963, little Bobby Panknin vanished on a family camping trip

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Thanks for bumping. I think of Bobby often.

Are you from WA?
Such a great photo. What a lovely group of boys/brothers.

 

[spartanx]

My first question is... why couldn't they all go see the waterfall? I was reading and the reason they told him to stay was that he was at the age where he never wanted to wear shoes... His mother said to stay because going off the trail without shoes was dangerous, so she made his brother stay with him... His brother got upset because his mother and his other brother were looking at the waterfall, so he left his brother for about 2 and a half minutes and when they came back he disappeared... A dog picked up the boy's scent, but it never went anywhere beyond a fork in the trail... It's very strange considering how close they were to the boy and if a vehicle had passed, they would have heard it and if someone had taken him, there was no way he could have escaped in those isolated mountains and whoever or whatever took him had to be very smart, strategic... and stalk the family to wait for Bobby to be alone and take him silently and so quickly without anyone noticing...
whatever
Rest in peace