Introduction: The Vanishing at the Salton Sea

Barry Kendal Vedder, a 52-year-old man from Desert Shores, California, vanished under circumstances that remain puzzling. Known to frequent the dusty shores of the Salton Sea, Barry was last reliably heard from on May 19, 2008, when he spoke with his sister using a cellphone she had given him. What began as a routine exchange of words became the last thread tying his family to his presence—a thread that abruptly snapped without warning.

Barry’s Profile: Who He Was

At the time of his disappearance, Barry stood at 5'1" and weighed approximately 145 pounds. He had blond—or strawberry—hair and piercing blue eyes. His body bore a distinctive array of tattoos: a cross on his right hand, another cross and an eagle on his right shoulder, and a crow etched upon his neck. That day he was wearing a simple white t-shirt, blue jeans, and matching blue shoes. Described as a Caucasian male of modest stature, Barry’s appearance was unassuming yet marked by these personal symbols inked into his skin....Read More