18 People Who Disappeared and Were Never Found
Vanishing without a trace, these people left behind only questions and speculation.
- Chris Graciano
- 4 min read
While some disappearances may be explained, others are completely illogical. Many people have just disappeared throughout history, leaving conspiracy theorists and families in a state of confusion. These 18 perplexing stories include individuals who ventured into the unknown and vanished from sight.
1. Amelia Earhart (1937)
Smithsonian Institution on Wikimedia Commons
The famous aviator set out to circumnavigate the globe but disappeared over the Pacific. Despite extensive searches, neither her plane nor her body was ever found.
2. The Lost Colony of Roanoke (1587)
Internet Archive Book Images on Wikimedia Commons
An entire English settlement vanished without a trace, leaving only the word “CROATOAN” carved into a tree. When supply ships returned years later, there was no sign of the 100+ settlers.
3. D.B. Cooper (1971)
Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wikimedia Commons
A mysterious man hijacked a plane, demanded ransom, then parachuted into the night—never to be seen again. Despite an FBI manhunt, no body or confirmed identity was ever found.
4. The Flannan Isles Lighthouse Keepers (1900)
Don Owsley on Pexels
Three lighthouse keepers disappeared from a remote Scottish island without explanation. Their logbook mentioned strange storms and an overwhelming sense of dread. When a rescue team arrived, they found food on the table but no sign of the men.
5. The Sodder Children (1945)
Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels
Five siblings supposedly perished in a house fire—but their remains were never found. Strange clues, including a postcard from someone claiming to be one of the missing children, deepened the mystery.
6. Percy Fawcett (1925)
Valentin Antonucci on Pexels
The British explorer vanished while searching for a lost city in the Amazon. Equipped with little more than a compass and a dream, he walked into the jungle and never returned.
7. The Mary Celeste Crew (1872)
Les Chatfield on Flickr
A perfectly intact ship was found adrift in the Atlantic with no crew aboard. The lifeboat was missing, but there was no sign of struggle or distress.
8. Richey Edwards (1995)
Masao Nakagami on Wikimedia Commons
The rock musician from Manic Street Preachers abandoned his car near a bridge and was never seen again. Though his body was never recovered, fans and friends have reported alleged sightings over the years.
9. The Beaumont Children (1966)
Martin Lopez on Pexels
Three Australian siblings went to the beach and never returned. Despite massive searches and countless leads, no trace of them was ever found.
10. Jim Sullivan (1975)
slydogmania on Wikimedia Commons
A folk musician released an album about disappearing in the desert—and then did just that. His car was found abandoned in New Mexico, but he was gone.
11. Michael Rockefeller (1961)
lil artsy on Pexels
The son of New York Governor Nelson Rockefeller vanished while collecting indigenous art in New Guinea. His canoe capsized, and he tried to swim to shore but never made it.
12. Louis Le Prince (1890)
KGGucwa on Wikimedia Commons
Often called the “father of motion pictures,” Le Prince was on the verge of unveiling his invention when he vanished. He was last seen boarding a train in France but never arrived at his destination.
13. Ambrose Bierce (1913)
Том Редмен on Wikimedia Commons
The famous writer and journalist journeyed to Mexico during its revolution—and was never heard from again. His last known letter hinted at an adventure he might not return from.
14. Glenn Miller (1944)
Piano Piano! on Flickr
The famous big band leader boarded a plane to France during WWII and vanished en route. No wreckage or remains were ever recovered.
15. Solomon Northup (1857?)
UCLA Newsroom on Flickr
The real-life inspiration for 12 Years a Slave regained his freedom after years of captivity—but then vanished again. After touring and speaking about his experiences, he disappeared from historical records.
16. Henry Hudson (1611)
Internet Archive Book Images on Flickr
The famous explorer’s crew mutinied and set him adrift in the Arctic. He was last seen floating away in a small boat with his son and a few loyal men.
17. Bobby Dunbar (1912)
Wikimedia Commons
A young boy disappeared on a family trip, only for authorities to return a different child to his parents. Years later, DNA tests proved the boy they raised was not actually Bobby.
18. The Villagers of Hoer Verde (1923)
cottonbro studio on Pexels
An entire Brazilian village of 600 people was found abandoned, with meals still on tables and belongings untouched. A message was scrawled on a chalkboard: “There is no salvation.”