The person at the center of this case
John Curely Hartenfeld
Missing Person · Open
30 years waiting · since 1996
Missing Person: John Curely Hartenfeld
Justice for John Curely Hartenfeld — the trail went cold in 1996, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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location
Lead #1Why was the fishing location above Taos kept undisclosed, and can it be identified to narrow the search area?
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vehicle
Lead #2What condition was the 4-Runner in when found, and were there any signs of struggle, accident, or foul play?
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timeline
Lead #3What was the 77-day gap between his disappearance and vehicle discovery—was the vehicle visible during this time?
John Curely Hartenfeld, a 46-year-old man from Santa Fe, disappeared on August 3, 1996, while traveling to a fishing location above Taos, New Mexico. His 1996 Toyota 4-Runner was discovered on October 19, 1996, in a remote high mountain area southeast of Amalia, New Mexico, but Hartenfeld himself has never been found. The circumstances of his disappearance and the location of his remains remain unknown, making this a long-standing mystery that warrants continued investigation.
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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 #4Were there any personal belongings, gear, or evidence found in or near the vehicle that could indicate what happened?
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witness
Lead #5Did anyone see Hartenfeld or his vehicle in the Taos or Amalia areas during early August 1996?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP127934. Missing person: John Curely Hartenfeld.
Last known contact: 1996-08-02 in Raton, Colfax, NM. Circumstances: On August 3, 1996 John Hartenfeld left his home in Santa Fe to go fishing in an undisclosed place above Taos, NM.
He has not been seen or heard from again. On October 19, 1996 Hartenfeld's 1996 Toyota 4-Runner was found in the remote high mountain area, southeast of Amalia, NM.
Demographics: 46 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 6 ft 0 in, 200 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Hazel.
Investigating agency: New Mexico State Police | 96-5747.
Timeline of Events
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1996-08-03
John Hartenfeld Disappears
John Curely Hartenfeld left his home in Santa Fe to go fishing in an undisclosed location above Taos, New Mexico. He has not been seen or heard from since.
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1996-10-19
Vehicle Found
Hartenfeld's 1996 Toyota 4-Runner was discovered in a remote high mountain area, southeast of Amalia, New Mexico.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:August 3, 1996
Last Updated:August 17, 2026
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Phone: 5058279300
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Case Information
Incident:August 3, 1996
Last Updated:August 17, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 5058279300
You can remain anonymous