Missing
Jeffrey Frederick Ervin Kolden
Kolden, approximately 2002
Date and time person was reported missing : 06/08/2002
Missing location (approx) :
Morenci, Arizona
Missing classification : Endangered Missing
Gender : Male
Ethnicity :
Native American
DOB : 09/27/1971 (49)
Age at the time of disappearance: 30 years old
Height / Weight : 5'8 - 5'10, 150 - 185 pounds
Description, clothing, jewerly and more : A white t-shirt with an American flag emblem, dark blue army fatigue pants, white socks with the brand name Hanes written across the toes, black combat boots and a Diamondbacks baseball cap.
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: Native American male. Brown hair, brown eyes. Kolden's nickname is Jeff. He had a small brown mustache and goatee at the time of his disappearance. He has previously fractured his right arm.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Kolden got into an argument with his fiancee on the night of June 8, 2002. He left home at 10:00 p.m. and drove to the local Circle K store, where he bought gas and beer. It's not clear where he got the money to pay for them, since his wallet was found in his other car after his disappearance, along with his heirloom wristwatch.
Afterwards, he was last seen driving approximately half a mile south of Morenci on Reservation Road, in an area known as the Morenci Corrals. He has never been heard from again.
The next day, Kolden's blue 1985 Chevrolet C/K 1500 pickup truck with Arizona license plates was located in the San Francisco River, which is along the same route. There was no sign of him at the scene and authorities do not believe he drowned there.
Kolden's fiancee was pregnant with a girl at the time of his disappearance, and police theorized he walked out of his life to avoid his obligations.
However, Kolden's loved ones stated he was looking forward to fatherhood and was also anticipating elk hunting season, and they don't think he would have left of his own accord. He also left his checkbook and $200 in cash behind, and he hasn't touched his bank account since his disappearance.
Oddly, the date of his disappearance was also the first anniversary of his fiancee's divorce from her ex-husband. Kolden was reportedly afraid of the man.
Kolden formerly resided in Tucson, Arizona. His disappearance is considered suspicious and his case remains unsolved.
Other information and links : ncy
Greenlee County Sheriff's Department
928-865-4149
September 2021 updates and sources
A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are not known. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2�5% of missing children in Europe.
By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends.
Several organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and imAge at the time of disappearance: s of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.
The Arizona Daily Star
The Eastern Arizona Courier
October 12, 2004. March 20, 2015; Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : updated.
Interactive Missing Person Search Map
