Roy Jacob Hagel, 38, of Fargo, North Dakota, disappeared in March 1989. Hagel, a traveling salesman, was last seen by acquaintances at a bowling tournament in Fargo on February 26, 1989. Rather than returning home to Bismarck as expected, he traveled across the country over the following days. On March 6, 1989 — the date NamUs records as his last confirmed contact — and again on March 8, Hagel telephoned an acquaintance, telling her he had visited nine states in nine days, had roughly $200 left, and planned to head back to Bismarck. The call was placed from Kingman, Arizona. The acquaintance told investigators Hagel sounded depressed during the conversation and hinted he was feeling suicidal. He was never heard from again. On March 10, 1989, Hagel's blue Ford Tempo was found abandoned off the road in a remote area near the Death Valley National Monument in California, with his wallet and car keys left inside. A set of footprints, believed to be his, was tracked roughly six miles into the desert before the trail was lost; park rangers were never able to confirm Hagel himself had been at the park.
The Bismarck Police Department is the lead investigating agency (Agency Case No. 89-3642; contact Sgt. Mark Gaddis, 701-223-1212). Investigators have found no subsequent use of Hagel's Social Security number, no financial account activity, and no arrest record anywhere in the United States since his disappearance. One possible sighting of Hagel in California was reported after he went missing but was never confirmed. The case remains open and classified as an Endangered Missing Person. Identifiers: NamUs #MP10495; NCIC #M-349150446.
