Last seen: July 1997
In the summer of 1997, a 14-year-old camper named Donnie Reyes vanished without a trace while attending a weeklong camp at Camp Geronimo, Arizona. He was assigned to Camp Site 12, a remote area nestled deep in the pines. The camp, known for its rustic trails and remote terrain, had been hosting scout groups and nature enthusiasts for decades.
Donnie was a quiet but curious boy from Mesa, Arizona. According to his parents, he loved the outdoors, sketching birds, and reading about early explorers. This was his second summer at Camp Geronimo, and he was excited to return. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary when he arrived on July 12th, 1997.
On July 17th, five days into the weeklong session, Donnie left his tent shortly before dinner. One camper reported that Donnie said he wanted to check out a small creek that he had seen earlier while on a group hike. Another claimed he was chasing a deer he'd spotted from his tent.
When he failed to return by nightfall, his troop leaders initially assumed he had joined another group. But as night deepened and no one reported seeing him, a search began. Camp staff, local police, and eventually state search and rescue teams scoured the surrounding woods. Dogs were brought in, helicopters searched from above, and volunteers combed the underbrush for days.
The only possible clue came three days later, when a torn piece of cloth believed to be from Donnie's shirt was found snagged on a branch near a ravine about half a mile from Site 12. No other evidence was ever discovered.
The search officially ended on August 3rd, 1997. Donnie’s parents, Maria and Joel Reyes, returned to the site every summer for several years, organizing their own small search parties, handing out flyers, and talking to locals. "I just need to know what happened," Maria said in a 2001 interview. "Even if it’s bad, we need to know."
Over the years, rumors began to circulate among campers and staff. Strange sounds were reported at night near Site 12 whispers, soft crying, the sound of footsteps in dry leaves. One counselor claimed to have seen a figure standing near the old fire pit, only for it to vanish when approached. While most chalked it up to imagination, others weren’t so sure.
Camp Site 12 was officially retired in 2003. It's still listed on official camp maps, and current staff discourage campers from exploring the area. "The woods remember," one anonymous counselor said. "They keep what they take."
No remains have ever been recovered. With no evidence of animal attack or foul play, theories have ranged from the plausible to the supernatural. Some believe Donnie simply got lost and succumbed to the elements. Others wonder if he stumbled upon something he shouldn't have seen an illegal operation, an old mine shaft, or something older.
While these are all plausible causes many believe it to be a result of paranormal activity weather it be the mogollon monser a camp geronimo/grand canyon legond, but most believe it to be something much more sinister. Its said that the camp site is almost silent, and campers who stumble across the site often report an uneasy feeling of being watched or haunted as if they are not supposed to be there.
Camp Geronimo remains open to this day, but Site 12 lies dormant, overgrown, and silent. A hand-carved sign that once read "SITE 12" now leans at an angle, weather-worn and half-swallowed by the forest.
If you know anything about the disappearance of Donnie Reyes, please contact the Gila County Sheriff's Office. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through local authorities.
Page last updated: August 2014
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