
The person at the center of this case
Charles R Hawkins
Justice for Charles R Hawkins — the trail went cold in 1998, but the truth hasn't.
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Why was the pickup truck locked and how did it end up in the desert arroyo? Was there evidence of foul play or voluntary departure?
What occurred between March 19 and April 19, 1998? How long was the truck actually in the arroyo before discovery?
The desert arroyo location—was it thoroughly searched for human remains or evidence given the suicidal ideation?
Charles R Hawkins, a 63-year-old man, disappeared from Las Cruces, New Mexico on March 19, 1998, after his wife reported he was suicidal and had attempted suicide multiple times. His pickup truck was discovered abandoned and locked in a desert arroyo on April 19, 1998, but an extensive search found no trace of Mr. Hawkins. A death certificate was issued in 2003 to allow his family to settle his estate, though his remains have never been located.
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Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
Were there any witnesses to Charles' movements on March 19, 1998, or sightings in the days following his disappearance?
Given his documented suicidal history and the isolated truck discovery, what evidence exists to determine whether this was a voluntary disappearance or an accident?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
NamUs case MP8321. Missing person: Charles R Hawkins.
Last known contact: 1998-03-19 in Las Cruces, Doña Ana, NM. Circumstances: Charles was last seen in Las Cruces, NM on 03/19/1998.
Charles' wife stated that he was suicidal and had attempted suicide on three different occasions. He was last seen in his pickup truck.
On 04/19/1998 his pickup truck was located in a desert arroyo. Truck was locked and when keys were brought to the truck's location, it was started and driven back to Las Cruces.
Search and Rescue conducted a full day search and found no sign of Mr. Hawkins.
No body has been found, but a death certificate was issued on March 19, 2003 so the family could settle his estate. Demographics: 63 years, Male, White / Caucasian.
Physical description: 5 ft 6 in, 170 lbs, hair: Gray or Partially Gray, eyes: Brown. Investigating agency: Las Cruces Police Department | L9805015 | 1998-03-19.
Charles was last seen in Las Cruces, NM in his pickup truck. His wife reported he was suicidal with a history of three previous suicide attempts.
Charles' locked pickup truck was discovered in a desert arroyo. When keys were brought to the location, the truck was started and driven back to Las Cruces.
A full day search was conducted by Search and Rescue but found no sign of Mr. Hawkins.
A death certificate was issued five years after disappearance to allow the family to settle his estate.
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.