MISSING PERSON
CASE #: 1997-5
Harold William Roland
Also Known As:
Bill
Status:
Open
Date of Last Contact:
Date of Last Contact:
Jurisdiction:
Missing From:
San Augustine County, Texas
Summary:
In 1997, William “Bill” Roland departed for a day of fishing on Lake Sam Rayburn in Texas from his lake house. However, Roland disappeared and has not been sighted since. In the subsequent months, Roland's truck, boat, and trailer were found in separate locations, yet there has been no conclusive evidence regarding Roland's fate.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Disappearance:
On July 21, 1997, William “Bill” Roland told a witness he planned to go fishing at Powell Park off of Lake Sam Rayburn. Roland resided in Lufkin, TX but had a lake house on Sam Rayburn. With no information about what happened on his fishing trip, his wife reported him missing the following day. On July 23, 1997, Roland’s truck was found off Neal Rd near FM 844, south of Huntington, TX. The truck was found burned by apparent arson. Inside the truck, a burned rifle was found underneath the back seat and an ice chest was in the bed. In August 1997, the boat trailer was recovered in a wooded area four miles south of Broadus, TX off of SH 147. Later in October 1997, Roland’s pontoon boat in a cove off of the Harvey Creek recreational area, near the end of FM 2390 in San Augustine County, Texas. The boat was missing the top and bullet holes were discovered in the side of the pontoons. The boat top was later recovered by divers in January 1998 in the water near where the boat was recovered. Foul play is suspected in Roland’s disappearance.
Additional Details:
Roland’s truck was a 1996 gray Chevrolet Z71 extended cab pickup truck with TX Reg# RE6006. It had a large orange ladder marked “JOC” for JO Cheatham Contractors, Inc. in the bed that was missing. Roland was vice president of the company. Also missing from the truck was Roland’s cellphone. Tools from the truck were found in the surrounding area the truck was recovered.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
Divers found the awning for Roland's boat in the area where the boat had been recovered.
Pontoon boat found in a cove off of Harvey Creek at the end of FM 2390 in San Augustine County, TX.
Roland's boat trailer was found in a wooded area four miles south of Broaddus off of SH 147.
Roland's truck was found burned off Neal Rd near FM 844.
Roland's wife reported him missing to law enforcement.
Roland told a witness he planned to go fishing at Powell Park.
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