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 was the nature of his relationship with Arnold Tittel?
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witness
Lead #2Were there any other boaters or witnesses at Folsom Lake on November 5, 1978 who saw the two men or their boat?
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clue
Lead #3Why was the boat found floating and functional with no signs of struggle or damage?
Arnold Lawrence Tittel, a 39-year-old man, went boating on Folsom Lake with companion Virgil Bonham on November 5, 1978, and both disappeared. Their boat was found floating and operational in the middle of the lake with no occupants, while their vehicle remained in the parking lot with personal belongings inside. Nearly five decades later, the circumstances of their disappearance remain unexplained, and the case seeks any information that might finally answer what happened that day.
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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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evidence
Lead #4What specific personal items were left in the vehicle, and could they provide clues about their plans?
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location
Lead #5Are there specific areas of Folsom Lake where bodies or evidence might have been recovered or searched?
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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
Boating Disappearance
Arnold Lawrence Tittel and Virgil Bonham went boating on Folsom Lake and both went missing. Their boat was found floating and functional in the middle of the lake with no occupants.
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1978-11-05
Vehicle and Personal Items Found
Their vehicle was discovered in the parking lot with personal items still inside, indicating an unexpected departure.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 5, 1978
Last Updated:June 16, 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:June 16, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 5308897800
You can remain anonymous