73-year-old Willard Bennett had spent most of his life living in the Pacific Northwest. As he got older, he became a snowbird. He would travel south to Arizona in his camper-style van during the winter months, and return to Washington for the warmer ones. This was a lifestyle that Will seemed to enjoy, and it became a yearly routine for him to trek to the desert. In November of 2013, he stopped by his daughter’s home in Washington to let her know he was headed out. They made plans to keep in touch weekly via phone, and then Willard left. However, Victoria stopped hearing from her father. Her calls went unanswered. Victoria was able to check Will’s bank account and saw that he hadn’t used his debit card in weeks, which was very out of character for him. That was when Willard Bennett’s family knew they needed to report him missing. Months later, Will’s van surfaced, but there was no trace of Will. Nearly ten years later, this case has gone cold with few clues to go on, but his family is still seeking answers.
If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Willard Bennett, please contact the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department at 858-565-5200.
