Early Life and Background

Joseph Clarence Wilma Jr. was born on June 18, 1953, in Blue Island, Illinois, to Joseph C. Wilma Sr. and Corrine M. (Hoogervorst) Wilma. Growing up in a large family, he was the fourth child and second son among his siblings. Joseph attended St. Christopher's Elementary School and graduated from Bremen Community High School in 1971. In 1976, he married Eileen Hanson, and together they had four children: Richard, Casandra, Ashley, and Alex. The family relocated from Chicago to Harris, California, in the summer of 1989, settling on the Miller Ranch. Joseph was known for his skills as a carpenter, gardener, and artist, and he had a passion for socializing, music, fishing, and camping with his family.

The Disappearance

On August 26, 2005, Joseph Wilma Jr., then 52 years old, was reportedly in Covelo, California, at his property with 33-year-old Michael William Desmet. The two men were last seen driving a maroon 1998 Toyota pickup truck, possibly in the China Creek area of Southern Humboldt County. They were reported missing on September 2, 2005. ...Read More