The person at the center of this case
Virgil Eugene Bonham
Missing Person · Open - Unsolved
47 years waiting · since 1978
Missing Person: Virgil Eugene Bonham
Justice for Virgil Eugene Bonham — the trail went cold in 1978, but the truth hasn't.
Start here
Key leads to think about
👁️
witness
Lead #1Were there any witnesses at Folsom Lake on November 5, 1978 who saw the two men or their boat?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2What was the condition of the boat and why was it found floating unoccupied?
👤
person
Lead #3What was the relationship between Virgil Bonham and Arnold Tittel, and were there any known conflicts or circumstances that day?
Virgil Eugene Bonham, a 38-year-old man, disappeared on November 5, 1978, while boating on Folsom Lake in Placer County, California with companion Arnold Tittel. Their boat was found floating and operational in the middle of the lake with both men missing, though their vehicle and personal belongings remained in the parking lot. The circumstances of their disappearance remain unexplained, and the case has never been solved.
Try asking
Claim this imported case
A one-time $10 claim transfers this imported case workspace to your account. You get 10 uploads for this case, 25 daily AI questions for this case, and public tips with files route to you.
10 uploads25 AI questions/day
This does not start a subscription. When the included limits are reached, the Personal plan unlocks more workspace capacity.
More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Why were personal items left in the vehicle—did this suggest an unexpected emergency or planned disappearance?
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 MP92657. Missing person: Virgil Eugene Bonham.
Last known contact: 1978-11-05 in Folsom Lake, Placer, CA. Circumstances: Virgil went boating on Folsom Lake with Arnold Tittel (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: 38 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 8 in, 140 lbs, hair: Brown, eyes: Hazel.
Investigating agency: Placer County Sheriff's Office | 14-1644 | 2014-02-18.
Timeline of Events
👤
1978-11-05
Virgil Bonham and Arnold Tittel disappear while boating
Virgil Eugene Bonham and Arnold Tittel went boating on Folsom Lake. Their boat was later found floating and functional in the middle of the lake with both parties missing.
📋
1978-11-05
Boat and vehicle discovered
The boat was found floating and operational in the middle of Folsom Lake. The men's vehicle was found in the parking lot with their personal items still inside.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
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
Leave a comment
Comments
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