Hayden town mayor Richard Roberts was last seen around 20:30 on February 1, 1995, when he told a town clerk that he would not be attending the Hayden Town Council's bi-monthly meeting later that week. His job as a consultant to oil companies required him to travel through several counties visiting oil-rig pads, and friends said it was not unusual for him to be gone for more than a week. The town clerk's office reported Roberts missing February 9. The Hayden Police Department launched its investigation into Roberts' disappearance a few days later. His gray and white Ford pickup was found in the Utah desert near the Colorado state line. Roberts' wallet, car keys and .22-caliber rifle were missing. Three footprints were found near the truck but a dry winter left them indistinct. All but one set of fingerprints left in the truck were accounted for. No other evidence was found at the site.

Roberts was divorced and lived alone at the time. He has three daughters. (Information retrieved from NamUs.gov)