Case Details
- Photo URLs:
-
- Missing Since:
- Missing Since 07/03/1995
- Missing From:
- Missing From Oroville, California
- Classification:
- Classification Endangered Missing
- Gender:
- Male
- Race:
- Race White
- Date of Birth:
- Age:
- Age 34 years old
- Height and Weight:
- Height and Weight 6’2, 190 pounds
- Clothing/Jewelry Description:
- Clothing/Jewelry Description Blue jeans and a t-shirt or tank top.
- Distinguishing Characteristics:
- Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Brown hair, blue eyes. Trotter has a tattoo on his shoulder.
- Details of Disappearance:
- In 1995, during the July 4th weekend, a truck driver named Trotter vanished from his Oroville, California home. Police found blood and bullet holes in his house, and his truck was later discovered in the nearby hills.
Trotter was supposed to testify against his neighbor, Dennis Oates, who was on trial for spousal abuse. They’d argued a few days before Trotter disappeared, with Oates accusing Trotter of having an affair with his wife. A witness saw Oates loading Trotter’s truck the day he vanished, claiming they were going camping.
Despite extensive searches, Trotter’s body was never found. However, Oates was convicted of Trotter’s murder and sentenced to 35 years to life in prison. Even though he’s been convicted, Oates has never said where Trotter’s body is. Trotter’s daughter received a settlement after suing Oates.
Everything points to Trotter’s disappearance being a murder.
- Agency:
- Butte County District Attorney’s Office 541-218-4408
- Source Links:
This person was missing Missing Since 07/03/1995