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 his relationship to Arnold Tittel? Did they have any known conflicts or concerns?
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evidence
Lead #2Why was the boat found floating and functional with no signs of struggle or damage? What was the water condition that day?
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witness
Lead #3Were there any witnesses at Folsom Lake on November 5, 1978 who saw the two men or their boat?
Arnold Lawrence Tittel, a 39-year-old man, went boating on Folsom Lake with Virgil Bonham on November 5, 1978, and both men disappeared. Their boat was found floating and functional in the middle of the lake with no occupants, while their vehicle remained in the parking lot with personal items intact. The circumstances of their disappearance remain unexplained after nearly five decades, and investigators continue seeking information about 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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clue
Lead #4What was in their vehicle and personal items left behind? Did anything suggest foul play or an accident?
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timeline
Lead #5What time did they launch the boat and when was it discovered? How long were they missing before being reported?
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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 disappeared. 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, suggesting an unexpected disappearance.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:November 5, 1978
Last Updated:June 19, 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 19, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 5308897800
You can remain anonymous