The disturbing disappearance of Bryce Herda from the Olympic National Park
Bryce Herda disappeared April 9, 1995, Shi Shi Beach Trail, Olympic National Park, Washington.
6-year-old Bryce Herda was out hiking with his family on Shi Shi Beach when he disappeared on the early evening of April 9, 1995. The location is to the southwest of the Makah Indian Reservation, close to Olympic National Park (West of Seattle),
At the time of his disappearance, Bryce was 4'0 tall, weighed 60 pounds, with a medium build, brown eyes and light brown hair. He had a medium complexion and was of Native American/Caucasian race. In addition, he had a 1' vertical scar in the center of his forehead by the hairline and a 1/8" mole on his right temple.
Bryce was last seen on the beach when his family left to walk up an adjacent trail. Since he was unable to walk up the trail, they agreed they would meet him back at the beach. When they returned, he was nowhere to be seen.
The boy's grandfather was the police chief when he went missing, so resources were deployed quickly and in numbers. People began searching within 45 minutes of his disappearance, with some 30 searchers, including Coast Guard helicopters, combing the area where he was last seen.
The search lasted through the night, with increasing numbers of ground and water crews equipped with special equipment searching for any signs. Dog teams and more crews joined the search the next day, and within a week, thousands of people, including U.S. Air Force personnel, rock climbers and divers, had been concentrated in the area. Others searched the coastline and drove off roads. After a week of searching, agencies called off the search, but Bryce's family continued to look for the boy. Footsteps were discovered but were intermittent.
The family believed that Bryce had been kidnapped, mainly since no trace of him or his clothing was ever found. The nearby Ozette Trail led to a homeless community. The police believed he may have been washed out to sea, but his body was never recovered from the water.
Why could he not accompany the rest of his family up the trail from the beach, and how long had he left it before their return? Did an abductor have time to whisk Bryce away?
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