WA WA - Bryce Herda, 6, Neah Bay, 9 April 1995

[HayLouise]

Re-creating a thread for Bryce Herda, the only one I could find had one post and was closed:


NCMEC: 803140

Bryce Herda

Missing Since - Apr 9, 1995
Missing From - Neah Bay, WA
DOB - Jul 24, 1988
Age Now - 30
Sex - Male
Race - Am. Ind.
Hair Color - Sandy
Eye Color - Brown
Height - 4'0"
Weight - 60 lbs


Age Progressed:

Bryce's photo is shown age-progressed to 19 years.

He was last seen hiking on the beach at the Makah Indian Reservation on the Olympic Coast of Washington.

He has a scar to the right of his forehead at an angle in the hairline, a freckle on his right temple, and a tan colored birthmark on the back of his upper leg.

Bryce was last seen wearing a white T-shirt, green pants, white socks, and red and black Power Ranger shoes with a lightening bolt on the side.

Have you seen this child? BRYCE HERDA

Missing Person / NamUs #MP6171

Bryce Florian Herda, Male, American Indian / Alaska Native

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[HayLouise]

Bryce, circa 1995; Age-progression at age 19 (circa 2007)

Bryce Florian Herda – The Charley Project

 

[HayLouise]

Details of Disappearance:


Bryce was hiking with his family on Shi Shi Beach Trail at the Makah Indian Reservation on April 9, 1995. The reservation is located near Neah Bay on Washington's Olympic Coast.

Bryce was last seen when his family began walking up a trail to exit the beach. He was unable to follow them up the slope, so they agreed to meet him at the beach. He never showed up and has never been seen again.

Bryce's grandfather was chief of police in the area at the time he disappeared. An extensive search by the Coast Guard, divers, and tracker dogs failed to locate Bryce. Some footprints were found, but they seemed to go on for awhile, then stop, then start again. No further evidence was ever located. There are several trails to the beach besides the Shi Shi Trail. One, the Ozette Trail, leads to a homeless community.

Bryce's parents believe he was abducted, but police think he may have been swept out to sea and drowned. There is no evidence to support these or any other theories. Bryce remains missing and his case is unsolved.

Bryce Florian Herda – The Charley Project

 

[PayrollNerd]

Sounds like a rogue wave. I wonder if any marine science or weather science experts were consulted about this particular area of the beach. What was the weather before, during and after the hike? What is the seabed like right off the coast? Was the homeless camp area inspected thoroughly? Were the known homeless persons interviewed? Interesting that only the parents believe he was abducted.

 

[PayrollNerd]

KIRO 7 News Facebook post dated April 9, 2014. The family has identified themselves in the comments.

KIRO 7 News

 

[bombardier]

Hmm...if he had been swept out to sea and over time made it all the way to California, there was a partial child skull found 11 years later. Isn't said on NamUs but skull was ID'd as male as per its WS thread. Would have been nice to hear a description of the teeth found as Bryce was described as having large upper front teeth with a gap between them.
NamUs #UP9597

 

[PayrollNerd]

Stolen Babies Are you a missing child Facebook page post from 3/29/13.

Stolen Babies Are you a Stolen child ?

 

[PayrollNerd]

When reading about this trail, I noted that they recommend a tide chart and a pass is required to enter the reservation.

In 1995 was this pass required? That would certainly narrow the pool of suspicion.

I wonder if early evening that day the tide was coming in or going out?

https://www.myolympicpark.com/things-to-do/shi-shi-beach

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Bumping up thread for Bryce.
This case is so incredibly sad.

By the way, I found that his page on Doe Network makes the events clearer.

Circumstances of Disappearance
Bryce disappeared after a picnic with family members at Shi Shi Beach on April 9. He became separated from the group of eight children and one adult.
He was last seen hiking on the beach at the Makah Indian Reservation on the Olympic Coast of Washington. Bryce and family members were on the beach attempting to go up a cliff using a rope. He was not able to follow his family up a slope, so they agreed he would meet them on the beach. He never showed up.
The Doe Network: Case File 1168DMWA

 

[spartanx]

[QUOTE = "PayrollNerd, post: 15134728, member: 217286"] Al leer sobre este sendero, noté que recomiendan una tabla de mareas y se requiere un pase para ingresar a la reserva.

¿En 1995 se requería este pase? Eso ciertamente reduciría el grupo de sospechas.

Me pregunto si ese día temprano en la tarde, la marea estaba subiendo o bajando.

Hike Shi Shi Beach to Point of Arches on Olympic Coast[/QUOTE]
I am from Chile and I have never seen a beach like this so beautiful, it hurts that this little one got lost there

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Bumping up for Bryce.

 

[John/Jane Doe]

1168DMWA - Bryce Florian Herda

 

[John/Jane Doe]

Bryce Florian Herda – The Charley Project

 

[Megsc]

1168DMWA - Bryce Florian Herda

 

[mjm076]

I just found out about this case thanks to the “NCMEC Long-Term Missing” Facebook page.

This case reminds me of the Mark Himebaugh case!

 

[bettyboop]

[QUOTE = "PayrollNerd, post: 15134728, member: 217286"] Al leer sobre este sendero, noté que recomiendan una tabla de mareas y se requiere un pase para ingresar a la reserva.

¿En 1995 se requería este pase? Eso ciertamente reduciría el grupo de sospechas.

Me pregunto si ese día temprano en la tarde, la marea estaba subiendo o bajando.

Hike Shi Shi Beach to Point of Arches on Olympic Coast

I am from Chile and I have never seen a beach like this so beautiful, it hurts that this little one got lost there
[/QUOTE]
@spartanx , You are SO RIGHT about the beauty of this beach!! I clicked the link and OMG, I was mesmerized! I believe this poor little boy was swept out to sea. As you said, such a tragedy happening here is incredibly sad. JMO MOO

 

[mlhenn]

Bryce Florian Herda – The Charley Project

Last updated May 4, 2025; age-progression updated