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An auto shop owner disappears after he receives a call for help from a stranded motorist.
CASE DETAILS  Dale’s truck discovered in a river On July 4, 1999, a family in Montrose County, Colorado, taking a Sunday swim, discovered a pick-up truck in the muddy water. The Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene. The truck belonged to Dale Williams, who had not been seen or heard from for six weeks. The pickup and the crime scene gave no clues to Dale’s whereabouts. Forty-two year-old Dale Williams was a devoted husband and father of two teenage daughters. He owned and operated an auto body shop in the town of Nucla. The night he disappeared, Dale didn’t make it home for dinner. At first, his wife, Diana, assumed he had just lost track of time. But by bedtime, she was worried:
 What happened to Dale’s missing posters? By dawn, Dale had not returned. As soon as she got her kids off to school, Diana drove straight to his garage:
They searched for hours before calling the police. Investigators learned Dale made a brief stop at family friend Tami Lowrance’s office about 12:15 P.M. the day he disappeared:
Dale was in a hurry. According to Tammy, he told her he was on his way to help a stranded motorist:
 Dale found torn photos at his shop Investigators also found out that Dale’s friend, Pastor Tom Ross, and his son, had stopped by the body shop late that morning. Tom told the police that Dale received distress call while he was there:
Dale’s shop did auto body repair. He wasn’t a mechanic. Tom Ross thinks it was strange for him to receive a call for roadside help:
 Who was the mysterious stranded motorist? Dale’s friends and family printed missing posters and put them up all over town. Dale’s wife, Diana, explains the strange events that followed:
A surveillance camera hidden by police captured a photo of the man who tore down the flyers. He was a former friend of Dale and Diana Williams. Lt. Greg Hiler of the Montrose County Sheriff’s Department:
Twelve months before Dale vanished, he and Diana had helped move the man’s ex-wife to another state without his knowledge. Diana thinks this was the basis for a motive:
A month after the move, Diana said that Dale found some disturbing items outside his shop:
The torn photographs had been stolen from his shop. They were pictures of Dale and Diana with their now divorced friends. Several .22-caliber rounds were scattered on the ground. A few days later, Diana made a strange discovery in the drop box at the video store she managed: a .22 caliber revolver. The gun — like the torn photos — had been stolen from Dale’s shop:
Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season twelve with Robert Stack and in season four with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. SUBMIT A TIP[/su_button |
Jordan
They made an arrest in the case.
https://www.9news.com/article/news/crime/western-slope-colorado-cold-case-homicide-arrest/73-b050dfe0-9cb8-4e0b-ac5f-a659523b17d7
Unknown
Arrest has been made in the case after 25 years. Suspect has been arrested for the murder of Dale.
Stacy
An arrest was made yesterday. Finally.
BRC
This case was just solved and an arrest has been made in Montrose Colorado
Tom
They just arrested the main suspect. There was some information in the article about his arrest I had not heard before. I hope this offers some relief to his family.
Girl_Friday
There has finally been an arrest in this case. James Daniel Bishop was arrested 10/14/24. I sincerely hope this will help bring closure to the family after all this time.
Jack
Finally, I believe the Williams family will be getting some answers. On October 17, 2024 there was a arrest made in the disappearance of Dale Williams. His name is Dan Bishop. I believe he is the “former” friend mentioned in the Unsolved Mysteries segment.
Suspect Arrested
Here’s the release from the Monstrose County Sheriff’s Office:
Arrest Made in Cold Case After 25 Years of Tireless Investigation
Montrose, COLO.— On May 27, 1999, Mr. Dale Williams was reported as a missing person to the Nucla Marshal’s Office. The investigation was then assumed by the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office on July 4, 1999, which was the same day that Mr. Williams’ truck was found fully submerged in the muddy waters at the confluence of the Dolores and San Miguel Rivers.
Since that date, numerous law enforcement agencies including the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation have been involved in this investigation.
“There have been countless interviews and hundreds of hours of investigation poured into this case. It has taken an entire team effort of law enforcement, family and concerned citizens to bring the case to where it is at today. We are grateful for the in-depth investigation over the last 25 years by the Agents of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and Investigators and Deputies of the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office,” said Montrose County Sheriff Gene R. Lillard.
On October 14, 2024 an arrest warrant affidavit was written by Agent Brandon Ludwig of the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and later reviewed and signed by the Honorable Montrose County Court Judge Laura Harvell.
Bail was set at $1,000,000.00 cash-only for the arrest of James Daniel Bishop for Murder in the First Degree in violation of C.R.S 18-3-102 (1)(a) as amended a Class 1 Felony.
On Oct. 17, 2024, James Daniel Bishop was arrested by Montrose County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Chuck Searcy, U.S. Marshal’s Service and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in Naturita, Colo., without incident.
The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office is grateful to the investigators, the community, and the Williams family for their tireless efforts to begin the closure process for a case that has affected us all.
Montrose County Sheriff Gene R. Lillard
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Suspect Arrested
A suspect was arrested today in Naturita, Colorado regarding this case. It sounds like the man whose wife left him with the help of Dale and Diana.
Bill Blaski
It’s been solved! It was the man taking down the posters. Bishop
J.D.
68 year old Dan Bishop has been arrested and charged with murdering Williams. His motive was Williams and his wife had helped Bishop’s wife escape from him.
Jonathan
He was probably robbed ,hit over the head and has amnesia. Someone out there had to have seen him because I just don’t believe he is dead . Why his truck ended up in the lake is beyond me but I don’t think he had anything to do with that either
Kate
The guy was arrested today in Nucla Colorado! He’s being held on a 1 million dollar bail. JAMES BISHOP IS THE ACCUSED
Brian
Can’t they have the ‘ Former family friend’ who took his missing Person pictures take a lie detector test to see IF he had any involvement in his missing appearance ????
Anonymous
That county is 5th in the state for reporting bear to human encounters. Anytime you find articles scattered it is usually a bear attack. I read an entire book on bear attacks. And everything the books teach about bears is not accurate. That is why I read on the real stories of them. It was the 4th of July. The bears were already upbeat from the fireworks sounding like gunshots. So a struggle in the dark happened with tools going everywhere. Why would someone struggle like that if the car was crashed by someone else? I mean the bears felt threatened. They have been hearing fireworks all night. Then a large truck crashed. Then someone comes through the woods with tools on his back like a riffle. Bears unfortunately are not intelligent like humans. The truck crashed very hard. I don’t think it was staged. There was a question on why the window was open. A door will not open unless the water inside is equal to the water outside. The water outside will push against it. So a window was his only way out unless he waited for the car to fill up.
Idk
SOLVE IT,Is their any updates???
Idk
SOLVE IT,any updates!!!!
Austin Powers
This should be solved by now!
Jessie James
Yes in deed there’s something strange here ! I think someone was just let off the hook !
Anonymous
The soap opera was very distracting. It even had me fooled at first. I had to watch the episode a second time with a fresh look to figure it out.
Jack meoffer
Thanks for clearing that up Greg!
Jack
I would like to start that I have been following this case since it first aired. I have noticed thru the years on this site that there are some people who keep getting confused about one thing. The Lt. in this article is not the man on camera tearing down the posters in the post office. The paragraph talks about someone going into the post office and tearing down the posters, they put a camera in there and they find out the man is a old friend of Dale and Diana Williams. Then the next sentence says Lt. Greg Hiler of the Montrose County Sheriff’s office talks about identifying the man and looking into his alibi and “for the most part” his alibi was confirmed. Lt. Greg Hiler is not the man that took down the posters!
shawnna
I feel The family friend who is taking down the posters was the one who did it he was angry about them taking his ex-wife out of town it explains the anger he had of the photos being torn up he’s the only one close enough to know where their gun was in their shop and how to get into their shop. as far as the alibi the person is lying for him they are afraid or helping him.
Anon
Looks like you somewhat have solved this case lol. Just came to light a few days ago Dale Williams killed him.
Jack
Please everyone read the article again. I am not trying to rude, just want to clear it up. It didn’t say the suspect was a police Lt. It talks about the police putting a surveillance camera in the post office, then it continues as saying the camera showed it was a old friend of Dale and Diana Williams. That sentence ends with a period. Then it talks about Lt .Greg Hiler of the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office saying that the they investigated the friend and that for the most part his alibi was consistent. The Lt. is not the friend that got caught tearing down the posters.
SNW
The cop isn’t involved. The cop was speaking on the man in the surveillance video. This case should be looked over. The ex-husband of the lady they relocated clearly has something to do with Dale’s disappearance.
Laura Drinkwine
A lieutenant in the police department, whether he has a beef with Dale or not, would know taking down the posters is wrong on many levels. As a police officer, presumably NOT involved with the disappearance, I would think he should be in serious trouble for removing those posters.
Erin Crowe
Not to be negative but, if I understand this correctly, the man who took down the missing photos and was the ex husband of the woman you all moved was a Cop, right? I live in Mesa County and I know the cops, especially the ones a decade+ ago, where not always the good guys. I know Nucla isn’t Mesa County but I’m sure it’s the same there as it is everywhere on the Western Slope. I’d look into your cop friend, Lt Hiker. They say his Alibis held up but if the cops were just standing that blue line they would say that, wouldn’t they? Now that this case is getting older, the cops who would have felt loyal to Lt. Hiler are all probably retired, I’d have the newer cops take another look at it. Might find some holes in that alibi after all. Especially with this current climate and the tensions with the police force. The good ones are really trying to stand out right now. Solving a local cold case would be something they just might be interested in doing. Especially if it is good cops arresting bad cops. Yup, they just might be interested in that.
Bill Blaski
I do feel like this case would be solved today. I believe the phone they used to call dale was stolen. Now a days they would trace that phone and figure out who it belonged to. Where it got stolen from and who stole it. In my opinion the cell phone that called dale is the answer to his murder. Rip Dale
Velia Becerra
On Wednesday 23rd. Of October,2019. I met a homeless man in St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Sacramento,ca. He enter the Church and sat 5 benches to the left side of the isle while I was in line for confession.
I went to him and started a conversation he was soft spoken and mumbling. He told me he was morning the death of his mother. And in a few days was going to be his birthday. He wanted to write something and he did but I’m not able to understand his writing. What is understandable is: I miss Loirreay Jay crop. Something about Lisa and Alices. He call himself David.
To me he looks alike Dale Williams. He probably has some mental issues.
johny
Dale still hasn’t been found yet, This is just sad
Anonymous
When the ex-husband of the woman Dale and Diana helped move to another state, is caught on hidden surveillance removing the missing posters of Dale from the post office, that clearly shows that his anger towards Dale has not lessened over time. The fact that this man’s ex wife moved to another state, refusing to disclose her location to her ex, and obviously instructing Dale and Diana not to reveal her location says a lot!!! This was someone who obviously feared for her life if her ex discovered where she was living. Was this man ever given a polygraph, as to Dales disappearance? Or has he refused a polygraph? Just curious…
Charles
Could it be something as simple as a disgruntled customer who had not paid him or felt like he had ripped them off and wanted their money or vehicle back. Maybe he was holding their vehicle for payment for his work and they killed him. Sometimes it can be simple, stupid reasons why a person would kill.
Bill Blaski
Dales case needs a new set of eyes looking at it. It would be great to get rebroadcast on the new unsolved mysteries show.
thinkingoutloud
maybe the man ripping down the fliers had something to do with his disappearance? maybe he had someone set up a fake distress call to Dale. Maybe Dale knew this person to be the friend of the husband and that is why he was feeling uneasy. Just because the man had an alibi doesn’t mean he wasn’t involved. I think the police should’ve dug deeper into this guy. Seems shady to me
Kika
Does anybody know the status on the ex wife of said friend? Is she alive? Is she missing?
Bill Blaski
So sad…any updates on Dale?
Jan
He’s still missing.
AW
Just a note that his height / weight is incorrect – it should state 5’7, 170 pounds.
Unsolved Mysteries Post author
Thank you for bringing that to our attention; it has been fixed.
Anonymous
Alwayssearching, I think it means the Lt. Was talking about the man tearing down the fliers, not that the man was actually the Lt.
Anonymous
I agree,check out the man of the ex wife, but also check the phone records to determine if the call came from a cello phone, if so proceed from there.
Brittany Howard
The call for the stranded motorist came from a stolen cell phone
Amy
99’ no cell phones yet…..
Adam
Ummmm. There were lots of cell phones in 1999…
Craig
It literally says in the Unsolved Mysteries episode that the distress call came from a stolen cell phone.
Beccaboo
I don’t know about this one. Something is off. Are there no other mechanics in his area? Or was it a customer and he gave him/her his details to call him if they got stranded? I think either it was the husband of the ex wife or the husband got people to carry out the job and kill Dale or he was involved in something that his wife or any one else knew about.
Anonymous
Not on the i70. Even today many trucking companies will not drive that way because if they break down it is hard to find repairs.
Anonymous
Police need to look into Dale’s involvement into drug trafficking. Local police at the time had that suspicion.
Anonymous
This is the problem with small town rumors. Just stop. It doesn’t help. It only impedes the investigation.
Chanita jackson
I just don’t understand what had happened to dale Williams he seemed like he was a sweet man it’s not fair to his wife and his two daughters that they have to suffer somebody needs to bring justice to his wife and two daughters!
nameless
I need to start off by saying that I knew Dale and was remodeling his body shop at the time of his disappearance. I was involved in the initial search and continued to search for Dale for 7 years following. I would like to address the comment regarding Dale a known drug dealer? The answer is although he was associated with a person that was later convicted of possession with the intent to sell methamphetamine.There is no evidence that Dale was ever involved in drugs. Four days ago on 11/01/2016 human remains were found by hunters in the sawmill mesa area, not far from where Dales truck was recovered. I am praying that they may be those of Dales but after speaking with others involved in the recovery they are not convinced and are waiting for test results. For Dales friends and family lets hope that they may find peace and closure.
Anonymous
Thank you, Nameless. Seems Anonymous didn’t get the memo.
Rtb
I have told many people items l knew ,one being relation,another being an employee of Montrose County sheriffs department and have found it funny that nobody ever ontacted me about things l knew or have heard!
Sinirant
Then contact the Montrose County sherrif’s department YOURSELF! Don’t sit around with information, go volunteer it yourself! His kids are desperate to know what happened to their dad! Why does someone have to come ask you? Grow a pair, and go report info to the CBI yourself. By anonymous tip or whatever!
KnewHim
They forget to mention he was one of the local drug dealers. His body is in a mine shaft somewhere.
blm
Now that statement is one that needs to be verified. Is there proof that he did deal in drugs? or just say so? Proof. Was/is there any? So you say he is in some shaft, again where is the proof? Hearsay? What did other druggies say about this? And yes, there were drugs in the area of John D. could not have been convicted because of his involvement with drugs. Someone needs to ask John D. what he knew, because he (John) was very affirmative about the fact he knew that Dale was dead. That was way to much info for me. Avoided John from then on.
Sinirant
blm It’s time for you to come forward with the name if this ‘John Doe’ charactet you speak of. You can make an anonymous tip to the CBI if you don’t want to be known. Have a conscience. You obviously know something. Dale’s children deserve answers, now.
Sinirant
Unless you yourself are somehow affiliated with drugs, how do you know that? And why should anyone trust what you say?
TS
I just now read all the comments. To give some information that was not in this article. There is no AAA in the area is is very small and when this happened there was literally very limited cell service and AAA did not go out there. Dale was a worker by himself he had a few friends who would help him at the shop but for the most part he worked by himself. The for the most part is the lt didn’t want to state it was for sure due to they didn’t have video or phone records to confirm he was where he said he was.
Johnny
This crime should never have happened. Dale should have brought another worker to the site with him as it was lunch hour. Williams own hesitancy with answering call to the stranded motorist proved to be right. Don’t understand why the perpetrators dumped the truck. It looked pretty new and could have cashed it out to somebody for sale. This case can be solved I think. Dale Williams was singled out definitely targeted. The stranded motorist could have called AAA or a number of other places to have a tow.
Moe
Was this ex friend abusive to the ex wife? What was is reasoning for taking down the fliers? Did they ever get the phone records from customer who needed help
Brittany Howard
They did get the phone records for the customer that called for assistance but the cell phone was a stolen cell phone.
AlwaysSearching4Answers
Man goes missing after receiving call for assistance. Apparently he seemed to be in a rush and uneasy. Family prints missing persons flyers, some one pulls flyers down, person is caught on camera. Said person is a lieutenant with the Montrose County Sheriff s Department and his Alibi checks out… “FOR THE MOST PART”. Let’s not forget we are talking about a man.who had beef with the now missing auto body repairs man. I can’t be the only one that finds this slightly disturbing. I would also love to hear the excuse this Lt. has for taking down the missing person flyers. Also why would the Lt’s wife need help leaving him.
I hope that Dale Williams’ friends n family one day know peace and find closure.
Bluebird
You need to reread the article. The person in question was not the lt. The lt. Is the man giving the statement below his name.. they do not mention the name of the friend in this article that is confidential except to those of the few who grew up there know who there talking about.
Jack
What does “for the most part” mean. The former friend seems like a little guilty they need to do some further investigating into this man.