A Quiet Morning Walk Turns Into a Mystery

On the early morning of October 6, 2018, 72-year-old Russell Ralph Hanks left his home on South Pomegranate Way in the Bloomington area of St. George, Utah. Surveillance cameras from neighboring homes captured him at 5:36 a.m., carrying a small backpack and heading toward the desert southwest of town—a region he was known to frequent for hikes. This routine walk, however, would mark the beginning of a perplexing mystery, as Hanks never returned and has not been seen since. 

Profile of a Missing Man

Russell Hanks was a Caucasian male, standing 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing approximately 125 pounds. He had gray hair and brown eyes. At the time of his disappearance, Hanks was living with Alzheimer's disease, a condition that can cause memory loss and confusion, potentially impacting his ability to navigate familiar areas. ...Read More