The Disappearance of Alan Wayne Soper, June 1974

Alan Wayne Soper was born on April 27, 1952, and is officially missing from Tulsa, Oklahoma. After graduating from college, Alan left home with the intention of traveling around the country. He told his parents that he was working for truck drivers — specifically loading and unloading cargo — in exchange for rides. 

Alan, 22, last contacted his family on Friday, June 7, 1974, when he called and said that he was in Sacramento, California at the time. According to all databases, he was never heard from again after this phone call in Sacramento, however according to one later clipping, a truck driver told police that after Alan traveled to northern California, he (the driver) dropped him off in Needles, San Bernardino County, CA.

Alan Soper. Photo from NamUs.

Almost exactly three years later, on June 8, 1977, Alan's wallet and clothing were found in Needles by two young boys who were walking in the desert area west of Needles near Eagle Pass Wash. The wallet contained a substantial amount of money. Both the wallet and the clothing showed extreme weathering, indicating they were likely in the desert for quite some time. Alan's parents identified the wallet and clothing as being his.

Alan is classified as Endangered Missing, and foul play is suspected in his disappearance. Alan is a white male who was 22 years old, 5'11, and 160 lbs at the time. He has blue eyes, shoulder-length brown hair, and no facial hair at the time, though there are photos of him with facial hair. Alan has a cleft in his chin, a dimple in his left cheek, and some freckles. He is right-handed and wears shoe size 10B. He has a scar on one of his wrists (it's uncertain which one) from a cut that occurred when he was two years old. He has previously had a deviated septum that was then surgically repaired. He also once suffered a broken right big toe as a juvenile.

Both Alan's DNA and his dental records are available for comparison, while his fingerprints are not. He has sixty-five UID exclusions on NamUs, including Aptos John Doe 1974, Twenty-Nine Palms JD 1974, and Amboy John Doe 1975, as well as one that has since been identified as Michael Ray Schlicht.

Anyone with information in Alan's disappearance is asked to please contact Detective Sergeant Joe Campbell of the Tulsa Police Department at (918) 596-9143. The agency case number is 1974-957022.

Sources

NamUs

Charley Project

Doe Network

WebSleuths

Needles Desert Star 8/17/77