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.