Joshua Ryan Wellman, a 35-year-old Vinton native, vanished on November 12, 2015, and his family has been searching for answers ever since.
That Thursday morning around 11 a.m., Josh’s mother, Teresa Walton, and his sister, Shawna Hunziker, dropped him off at the Cedar Rapids Area Substance Abuse Center (ASAC). It was the last time they would see him.
Later that afternoon, investigators confirmed Josh was with several individuals at the Verizon store on Blairs Ferry Road NE. Surveillance video helped police identify and interview everyone involved, and all were ruled out as suspects. The footage did, however, help investigators build a rough timeline of Josh’s final known movements.
Josh was officially reported missing on November 16, 2015. Despite years of investigation—including phone and financial record subpoenas, interviews, and database entries—no confirmed sightings or contact have ever been made.
All of Josh’s personal belongings were left behind at his mother’s home, where he had been staying. His bicycle was still there. His phone went straight to voicemail. For those who knew him, this silence made no sense.
Josh was a devoted father. Friends and family are adamant he would never have walked away from his children.
A close friend, Linnea Hite, described him as a proud, loving dad whose face lit up when he talked about his kids. He even had his youngest daughter’s name tattooed on him before she was born.
“He never would have left his babies willingly,” Linnea said. “They deserve to know what happened to their father, and his family deserves some closure.”
Josh is described as:
- White male
- 5’5”, approximately 175 lbs
- Brown hair, brown eyes
- Tattoos on both arms, including one on his right arm that reads “HOPE”
Josh enjoyed spending time outdoors, camping, fishing, playing Frisbee golf, and—most of all—being a dad. His family says he was not upset or acting differently before he disappeared.
In June 2024, The Gazette revisited Josh’s case as part of its cold case series, sharing new insights from his family and from Cedar Rapids Police Department Investigator Matt Denlinger, who continues to review the case with the department’s Cold Case Unit.
For Teresa and Shawna, the years have not made the absence easier.
“Josh was NOT disposable,” Teresa says. “He is loved. He is missed. I just want answers.”
If you have any information—no matter how small—please contact:
- Cedar Rapids Police Department: 319-286-5375
- Anonymous tips: www.missingandendangered.org
Josh Wellman has been missing for over nine years. His family has never stopped looking.
They are still asking the same question they’ve asked since 2015:
