Above: Rex circa, 1980
Vital Statistics at Time of Disappearance
Missing Since: May 24, 1980
Missing From: Palisades Reservoir, Bonneville County, Idaho
Classification: Lost, Injured Missing
Date Of Birth: June 24, 1973
Age: 6 years old
Height and Weight: 3’9″ and 50 pounds
Distinguishing Characteristics: Caucasian Male, Brown hair, Hazel eyes
Details of Disappearance
Rex was last seen with his father, Larry Hill, and a man named Laddie Schiess and his daughter, Toni Schiess in the Palisades Reservoir in Bonneville County, Idaho on May 24th 1980. They were all traveling on a 14 foot aluminum boat with 4 other passengers. The boat was owned by Laddie and all persons aboard were presage for a fishing trip.
When the boat was 100 yards away from shore and near the “Overlook at the Narrows”, it capsized and the passengers were plunged into the water. The weather that day was unpleasant and the waters were rough with a surface temperature between 47 and 51 degrees. Four of the other passengers were safely rescued but Rex, Toni, Laddie, and Larry vanished and could not be located. They were unable to reach the boat and the other passengers were unable to grab them.
The people rescued were 3 children, two of whom were siblings of Toni and Rex and the other was a 7 year old boy named Jimmy and his father, Peter Bates. Police and rescue teams searched extensively for the bodies of the missing but were unable to locate them. They are all presumed drowned.
Investigating Agency
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:
Bonneville County Sheriffs Office 208-529-1200
Source Information
Idaho Missing Persons Clearinghouse