His girlfriend, Ladena Mann, said they fought that night, and he left their home angry. He’s been missing ever since.

Riegel was a pilot, but his license was suspended because of a neck injury, and he was unemployed at the time. He was a lifelong Yakima resident and often went to local bars. He was close to his family and friends, but stopped contacting them completely after Christmas 2009. He also didn’t use his bank accounts or phone.

Suspiciously, Mann used Riegel’s food assistance card (EBT) after he disappeared, spending over $1500. She even falsely claimed he still lived with her on official forms. She faced charges for this, but they were dropped after she paid back the money and completed a special program.

In an interview, Mann said Riegel had a drinking problem and that he assaulted her the night he disappeared. However, she had no injuries and no witnesses, so the police couldn’t pursue her claim of assault. Strangely, she also claimed Riegel contacted others after his disappearance and that she believes he’s alive and his family knows where he is, possibly in Idaho or Montana.

Because of Mann’s actions and the fact that it was totally unlike Riegel to disappear without a word, police suspect foul play. His disappearance remains a mystery. Ladena Mann is considered a person of interest in the case.