The person at the center of this case
Arnold Lawrence Tittel
Missing Person · Open
47 years waiting · since 1978
Missing Person: Arnold Lawrence Tittel
Justice for Arnold Lawrence Tittel — the trail went cold in 1978, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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person
Lead #1Who was Virgil Bonham and what were the circumstances of his disappearance alongside Arnold Tittel?
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evidence
Lead #2Why was the boat found floating and functional with no signs of struggle or damage?
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witness
Lead #3Were there any witnesses at Folsom Lake who saw the two men or their boat that day?
Arnold Lawrence Tittel, a 39-year-old man, went boating on Folsom Lake with companion Virgil Bonham on November 5, 1978, and both men disappeared. Their boat was found floating and operational in the middle of the lake with no occupants, while their vehicle and personal belongings remained in the parking lot. The circumstances of their disappearance remain unexplained after nearly five decades, leaving open questions about whether they encountered an accident, foul play, or other unknown events on the water.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
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clue
Lead #4What explanation exists for why both men vanished from an operational boat in the middle of the lake?
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timeline
Lead #5What was the exact timeline of events on November 5, 1978, and when were the men and boat discovered?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP92661. Missing person: Arnold Lawrence Tittel.
Last known contact: 1978-11-05 in Folsom Lake, Placer, CA. Circumstances: Arnold went boating on Folsom Lake with Virgil Bonham (also missing).
Their boat was found floating and functional in the middle of the lake with both parties missing. Their vehicle was found in the parking lot with their personal items still inside.
Demographics: 39 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 6 ft 0 in, 165 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Brown.
Investigating agency: Placer County Sheriff's Office | 14-1644 | 2014-02-18.
Timeline of Events
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1978-11-05
Arnold Tittel and Virgil Bonham go boating
Arnold Lawrence Tittel and Virgil Bonham departed for a boating trip on Folsom Lake
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1978-11-05
Boat found floating
Their boat was discovered floating and functional in the middle of Folsom Lake with both men missing
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1978-11-05
Vehicle and belongings located
Their vehicle was found in the parking lot with personal items still inside
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 5, 1978
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 5308897800
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Case Information
Incident:November 5, 1978
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 5308897800
You can remain anonymous