STEVEN LEE STAFFORD Missing: 4/7/1997 Found: 12/21/1997
Sex: Male.
DOB: Age 20 at the time of disappearance
Clothing: Blue jeans, a gray and blue flannel shirt, and ankle-high boots.
On April 7, 1997 Steven Lee Stafford (20 years old) was working on a construction job site in the area of Pioneer near Highway 88. Stafford reportedly got into an argument and walked off the job site without anyone seeing him leave. At the time he left, Stafford was reportedly wearing blue jeans, a gray and blue flannel shirt and ankle high boots.
A missing persons report was taken at the time and a search of several locations was conducted. A missing persons bulletin was distributed throughout the county and to surrounding agencies.
On December 21, 1997, a hiker discovered human skeletal remains in the steep wooded area of the Mokelumne River canyon, below River Road. At autopsy, the remains were identified as that of Stafford. The cause of death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head.
