Donald Cavanaugh Missing Person Case

Donald James Cavanaugh, 63, was last seen on March 1, 2005, in Ukiah, California. Originally from Illinois, Cavanaugh moved to California in 2004 to work on a horse ranch owned by his nephew, James DeNoyer, in Westport. The ranch was involved in both horse farming and marijuana cultivation. Tensions grew between Cavanaugh and DeNoyer due to financial and personal disagreements, as well as concerns about the treatment of the horses.

In December 2004, Cavanaugh was forcibly taken to San Francisco International Airport, allegedly at gunpoint by DeNoyer, and abandoned without money or transportation. After spending weeks with a friend, he eventually went to Ukiah's Plowshares, a shelter for the indigent, where he expressed a desire to return to the ranch to retrieve his belongings and dogs. This was the last time anyone saw him. He was reported missing in May 2005.

Cavanaugh's disappearance is linked to another individual, David Neily, who went missing in 2006 after working on the same ranch. DeNoyer is considered a person of interest in both cases, though no charges have been filed. Investigators suspect foul play, but both disappearances remain unsolved.
Last Seen: Mar 1, 2005

Dateline NBC - Facebook

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Missing in America: Donald Cavanaugh & David Neily - NBC News