Hopes dim for finding missing man

Darrel Ray Johnson's daughter-in-law isn't holding out hope he will be found alive after he disappeared from Conchas Lake State Park nearly four months ago.

Johnson, 67, of Phoenix last was seen at the park shortly after midnight on June 29, said Michaelyn Kindly, also of Phoenix, who is married to Darrel Johnson Jr.

She said Johnson, who had been camping at the park northwest of Tucumcari with a female companion and more than 30 other family members for a birthday party, zipped up his tent about 11 p.m., then went to a neighboring campsite about 12:30 a.m. to ask for a flashlight.

After he obtained it, nobody has seen a trace of him since.

"It's like he disappeared off the face of the earth," Kindly said during a phone interview last week.

New Mexico State Police issued a missing-person bulletin for Johnson after he disappeared. An email to NMSP requesting comment received no response.

Kindly also said local police sent up a search drone days after Johnson's disappearance, then used a dog and other searchers in August at the park - with no results.

"Unfortunately, we do not feel he is alive at this point," she said. "I do feel his body is somewhere."

Kindly said data from Johnson's cellphone provider indicated it was used to access the internet one day after he vanished, but nothing since.

Kindly acknowledged Johnson might have been experiencing early stages of dementia, but it wasn't officially diagnosed. She said he showed a tendency to repeat himself while talking.

She dismissed the possibility he walked into the lake and drowned because he was afraid of water.

She also said Johnson didn't drink, smoke or use illicit substances.

However, according to a report by state police, campers told the officer that Johnson "appeared he may have been drunk or under the influence of something."

Kindly suspects Johnson fell victim to foul play.

"Everybody thinks somebody did something to him," she said.

She said she and her husband spent about a week searching for Johnson after his disappearance. Kindly said the Conchas Lake community has expressed its concern for him and his family, but she expressed frustration about how little contact she's received from state police.

Kindly said she wasn't deluding herself into thinking Johnson will miraculously turn up alive.

"At this point, we just want to find his body and bring him home," she said.