The person at the center of this case
David William Barth
Missing Person · Open
21 years waiting · since 2004
Missing Person: David William Barth
Justice for David William Barth — the trail went cold in 2004, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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location
Lead #1Why was Mr. Barth walking on the railroad tracks, and where was he headed? Did he have a routine or destination in that direction?
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evidence
Lead #2The backpack believed to contain whiskey bottles—was it found, and does it provide clues about his movements or intentions?
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witness
Lead #3Has the neighbor who reported the sighting been fully interviewed about the time, direction, and Mr. Barth's condition or demeanor?
David William Barth, a 70-year-old man, disappeared on July 30, 2004, from Blue Canyon in Placer County, California, after stepping away from his porch. A neighbor reported seeing him walking eastbound on nearby railroad tracks shortly after he vanished. Despite the initial sighting and known clothing and personal items, his whereabouts remain unknown after more than two decades, and investigators continue to seek information about what happened to him.
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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.
💡
clue
Lead #4Given his age and the remote railroad location, could he have suffered an accident or medical emergency along the tracks?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP3912. Missing person: David William Barth.
Last known contact: 2004-07-30 in Blue Canyon, Placer, CA. Circumstances: Mr.
Barth was sitting on the porch and the wife noticed 10 minutes later he was gone, a neighbor reported seeing Mr. Barth walking eastbound on the railroad tracks located near his home.
Demographics: 70 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 11 in, 185 lbs, hair: White, eyes: Brown.
Clothing and accessories: Clothing: a white short sleeved t-shirt, 17" collared long sleeve cotton shirt in dark blue/light blue and white checked shirt, light blue polyester pants, dark ball cap, rust/light brown colored book bag type backpack believed to contain one to two 1/2 gallon bottles of whiskey either Kessler or Ten-High brand.; Eyewear: polarizing prescription bifocal glasses; Footwear: Size 9 1/2 EEE Mason shoe; Jewelry: ring on right hand-white metal band containing a large white stone. Investigating agency: Placer County Sheriff's Office | 04-11740 | 2004-07-30.
Timeline of Events
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2004-07-30
David Barth Goes Missing
Mr. Barth was sitting on his porch in Blue Canyon when he disappeared. His wife noticed he was gone approximately 10 minutes after last seeing him.
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2004-07-30
Neighbor Sighting on Railroad Tracks
A neighbor reported seeing Mr. Barth walking eastbound on railroad tracks located near his home on the day of his disappearance.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:July 30, 2004
Last Updated:June 16, 2026
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Phone: 5308897800
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Case Information
Incident:July 30, 2004
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