The person at the center of this case
Virgil Eugene Bonham
Missing Person · Open
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.
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Key leads to think about
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person
Lead #1Who was Arnold Tittel and what was his relationship to Virgil Bonham?
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evidence
Lead #2Why was the boat found floating and functional with no signs of distress or struggle?
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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?
Virgil Eugene Bonham, a 38-year-old man, went boating on Folsom Lake with Arnold Tittel on November 5, 1978, and both men disappeared. Their boat was found floating and operational in the middle of the lake with no occupants, while their vehicle and personal belongings remained in the parking lot. Nearly five decades later, the circumstances of their disappearance remain unexplained, and authorities continue to seek information about what happened to both men.
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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 personal items were found in their vehicle and could they provide clues about their plans?
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location
Lead #5Were there any specific areas of Folsom Lake where the boat was found, and could water conditions that day explain their disappearance?
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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
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1978-11-05
Boating disappearance
Virgil Eugene Bonham and Arnold Tittel went boating on Folsom Lake and disappeared. Their boat was found floating and functional in the middle of the lake with both parties missing.
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1978-11-05
Vehicle and belongings found
Their vehicle was located 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
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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