The disappearance of four-year-old Alfred Beelhartz remains one of Rocky Mountain National Park's most perplexing mysteries. On July 4, 1938, the Beelhartz family's vacation took a tragic turn when Alfred vanished during a hike. The family of twelve had set up camp near Roaring River in an isolated area of the park, enjoying typical summer activities like hiking and fishing in what would have been approximately 90-degree weather.

The circumstances surrounding Alfred's disappearance are baffling. While hiking in a line formation with parents at the front and children following behind, Alfred simply vanished. Initial search efforts focused on nearby creeks, but when no evidence was found, bloodhounds were brought in. Strangely, two separate dog teams led searchers 500 feet up a steep cliff face—terrain impossible for a small child to climb—before stopping as if their job was complete. Other potential leads emerged, including a reported sighting of a child being pulled back from a cliff edge, a possible sighting in Nebraska, and even a ransom note demanding $500, but none produced concrete results.

Key Takeaways

Four-year-old Alfred Beelhartz vanished during a family hike in Rocky Mountain National Park on July 4, 1938, despite being with eleven family members.
Search dogs inexplicably led investigators 500 feet up a steep cliff face that would have been impossible for a small child to climb independently.
Despite multiple reported sightings and even a ransom note in the aftermath, the case remains unsolved with no definitive evidence of what happened to Alfred.

The Beelheart Family's Fourth of July Getaway

The Wilderness Retreat and Activities

The Beelheart family chose Rocky Mountain National Park for their Independence Day vacation in 1938. Their itinerary included hiking, fishing, and camping among Colorado's majestic mountains. They established their campsite in a secluded area near Roaring River, away from the more populated sections of the park.

Weather conditions during their July stay would have been warm, with daytime temperatures likely reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The family dressed appropriately for these conditions, with four-year-old Alfred wearing lighter clothing and a bandage on what was presumably his arm or leg.

The Family Group and Relationships

The Beelhearts were a remarkably large family consisting of two parents and ten children, making any family outing a significant logistical undertaking. When hiking from their campsite toward Estes Park, they arranged themselves in a single-file line with both parents at the front, followed by the children in descending order.

This arrangement, while perhaps convenient, proved problematic for supervision. The parents' decision to both lead from the front rather than position adults at both ends of the line meant the youngest children were at the rear with minimal adult oversight.

Rocky Mountain National Park's Terrain in 1938

The park's landscape in 1938 featured dramatic elevation changes, steep cliff faces, and challenging terrain throughout the region where the Beelhearts were camping. While treacherous in places, most areas were navigable for groups traveling together with proper attention.

The specific region contained:

Steep cliffs rising 500+ feet vertically
Areas like "Devil's Nest" with extreme elevation changes
Roaring River and various creeks with swift-moving water
Remote cabins scattered throughout less-visited sections

This environment, while breathtakingly beautiful, presented natural hazards that would pose particular challenges for a young child separated from their group. The isolation of their chosen campsite meant they were distant from immediate assistance when their family crisis began.

Alfred Beelhartz's Vanishing

First Moments of Disappearance

On July 4, 1938, the Beelhartz family's vacation at Rocky Mountain National Park took an unexpected turn when their four-year-old son Alfred disappeared. The family of twelve had established their campsite in a secluded area near Roaring River. Weather conditions likely reached approximately 90 degrees Fahrenheit at the day's peak, with Alfred dressed in lightweight clothing and wearing a bandage.

The family embarked on a hike toward Estes Park, arranging themselves in a single-file line with both parents leading at the front and the ten children following behind. This arrangement proved fateful as somewhere along the journey, Alfred vanished without anyone noticing his absence. The mountainous terrain featured steep cliffs and challenging paths, though most were considered manageable with proper supervision.

Family's Response to the Disappearance

Upon discovering Alfred was missing, the eleven remaining family members conducted an initial search of the immediate area but found no trace of him. They promptly alerted forest rangers who launched an official search operation. Authorities initially focused on nearby creeks, suspecting a drowning accident.

After several unsuccessful days of searching, officials brought in bloodhounds to track Alfred's scent. Surprisingly, the dogs led investigators up a steep 500-foot cliff face—terrain considered impossible for a four-year-old child to climb independently. Upon reaching a plateau, the dogs simply lay down as though their task was complete. A second team of bloodhounds later followed the exact same path, adding to the mystery.

One potential witness reported seeing a child approximately 500 feet up at a location called Devil's Nest near Mount Chapin, roughly six miles from the disappearance site. The witness claimed to have seen the child scream and then get pulled backward out of sight. Investigators initially dismissed this account due to the distance and timing.

The Beelhartz parents maintained their belief that Alfred had been kidnapped. Later developments included:

A possible sighting in Nebraska of a child matching Alfred's description walking with an unidentified man
A ransom note demanding $500 (equivalent to approximately $10,000 today) for Alfred's safe return
The discovery of a bandage in an abandoned cabin in the park that could not be definitively linked to Alfred

Federal authorities determined the ransom demand was likely a hoax and did not pursue further investigation or attempt to monitor the requested drop location.

Search and Rescue Operations

Ranger Response Team

Forest rangers immediately mobilized when the Beelhearts family reported four-year-old Alfred missing during their July 4th, 1938 hiking trip in Rocky Mountain National Park. After the family's initial search proved unsuccessful, park authorities launched a more comprehensive effort. Rangers initially focused on nearby creeks, operating under the assumption that Alfred might have fallen in and drowned. They dammed and dredged waterways but found no trace of the boy or his belongings.

Canine Tracking Units

When initial search methods yielded no results, authorities brought in bloodhounds to track Alfred's scent. The dogs' behavior puzzled investigators as they immediately headed uphill rather than toward the water. The first team of bloodhounds led searchers up an extremely steep 500-foot cliff face—terrain considered impossible for a four-year-old child to navigate independently. At the top plateau, the dogs simply laid down as if their tracking mission was complete. A second team of bloodhounds, brought in to verify these puzzling results, followed exactly the same route to the same location.

Mountain Exploration and Witness Reports

A potentially crucial witness report was initially dismissed by investigators. Approximately 24 hours into the search, a hiker near Mount Chapin—about six miles from the disappearance site—reported seeing a child approximately 500 feet up in an area called the Devil's Nest. The witness claimed the child screamed and was suddenly pulled backward out of sight. Investigators considered this report implausible due to the distance and elevation, deeming it impossible for Alfred to reach that location so quickly on his own.

Other potential leads emerged in the following months. A child matching Alfred's description was reportedly seen walking with an unidentified man in Nebraska. Later, the family received a ransom note demanding $500 (equivalent to approximately $10,000 today) for Alfred's safe return, claiming he had been taken "out west." Federal authorities investigated but dismissed it as a hoax without setting up surveillance at the proposed money drop location. Additionally, searchers discovered a bandage in an abandoned cabin within the park, but tests at the time couldn't conclusively link it to Alfred.

Leads and Sightings After Alfred Vanished

The Clifftop Observation

Within 24 hours of Alfred Bielhartz's disappearance, an unidentified hiker reported a troubling observation near Mount Chapin. While walking along a trail, he heard rustling sounds and looked up to see what appeared to be a child approximately 500 feet above him in an area known as the Devil's Nest. The witness claimed the child briefly peered down at him before screaming and being suddenly pulled backward out of sight.

Investigators initially dismissed this account due to its distance from the original search area—approximately six miles away—and the seemingly impossible elevation. They considered it highly improbable that a four-year-old could have traveled that distance and reached such a height in the short timeframe.

The Out-of-State Encounter

Some time after Alfred's disappearance, a potential sighting occurred in Nebraska. A child matching Alfred's description was reportedly seen walking alongside an unidentified man.

This lead proved difficult to pursue as:

The witness provided insufficient details about the man
No additional identifying information was available
Authorities couldn't establish a concrete connection to Alfred
The investigation into this sighting ultimately went cold

Ransom Note and Its Investigation

The family later received a ransom note demanding $500 (equivalent to approximately $10,000 today) for Alfred's safe return. The note:

Claimed Alfred "would not take to them"
Promised to deliver the child within 24 hours of payment
Instructed the money be placed in a can
Mentioned the kidnappers had gone "out west" from Denver

Federal authorities investigated the ransom demand but dismissed it as a cruel hoax without conducting a thorough follow-up. No stake-out of the drop location was arranged, despite this being a potential opportunity to either recover Alfred or apprehend those exploiting the family's tragedy.

In an additional development, investigators found a bandage in an abandoned cabin within Rocky Mountain National Park. Though testing methods of the time (likely using bloodhounds) were employed, authorities couldn't conclusively link the bandage to Alfred.

Unsolved Mysteries and Speculative Explanations

The Bandage Clue Significance

The discovery of a bandage in an abandoned cabin within Rocky Mountain National Park represents one of the most tangible yet inconclusive pieces of evidence in Alfred Bielhartz's disappearance. While authorities attempted to connect this bandage to the missing four-year-old, the technological limitations of 1938 prevented definitive identification.

The bandage holds particular importance because Alfred was reportedly wearing one at the time of his disappearance. This physical item, found in an isolated structure within the park boundaries, suggests multiple possibilities:

Possible temporary shelter: Alfred might have sought refuge in the cabin
Evidence of third-party involvement: Someone might have taken Alfred to this location
Unrelated coincidence: The bandage could belong to another park visitor entirely

Without modern forensic techniques available at the time, investigators couldn't establish a conclusive link between the bandage and Alfred. This evidence represents a critical missed opportunity that might have changed the investigation's direction.

Flaws in Search Methodology

The investigation into Alfred's disappearance demonstrates several questionable procedural decisions that potentially hampered recovery efforts. The initial assumption that the child had drowned in a nearby creek appears premature and narrowed the search focus unnecessarily. This presumption persisted despite:

No body being found after damming and dredging operations
No recovery of personal belongings in the waterway
Two separate bloodhound teams tracking scent in the opposite direction

The dogs' behavior presents a particularly perplexing element. Both bloodhound teams independently tracked Alfred's scent approximately 500 feet up an extremely steep slope—terrain considered impossible for a four-year-old to navigate independently. Instead of thoroughly investigating this unusual circumstance, authorities essentially dismissed the canine evidence as implausible.

Law enforcement's handling of potential leads appears equally problematic. The witness report of a child seen at "Devil's Nest" received minimal follow-up due to the location being six miles from the disappearance site. Similarly, a Nebraska sighting of a child matching Alfred's description walking with an unidentified man went uninvestigated.

Most troubling was the mismanagement of a ransom demand. The $500 request (equivalent to approximately $10,000 today) presented an opportunity for either recovery or apprehension of those exploiting the family's tragedy. Setting up surveillance at the drop location would have been a standard investigative technique, yet authorities dismissed the note as a hoax without taking this basic step.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Alfred Beelhartz: A Rocky Mountain National Park Missing 411 Case