Bolivian BERSA team member Richard Mendoza coils a rope following a rappel in the search area. NPS photo.

Last month, a team of NPS personnel provided assistance to the Peace Corps Office of Inspector General with an organized search effort to locate the remains of volunteer Walter Poirier, who went missing in the Zongo River Valley of Bolivia in 2001. 

Rangers Ken Phillips and Bil Vandergraff, along with GIS specialist Steven Mietz, who planned the search efforts, worked with Peace Corps special agent Julie DeMello, State Department special agents, two FBI special agents and Bolivian National Police investigators. Six additional NPS search personnel assisting with the efforts in Bolivia, included Jack Hoeflich, Kevin Killian, Jeff Kracht, Lance Mattson, Donna Sisson and Todd Swain.  They were assisted by four cadaver dog handlers along with their animals, who were also brought from the United States, as well as members of BERSA (Brigada de Rescate y Salvamento), the Bolivia National Police Rescue Team.

Walter Poirier had been assigned by the Peace Corps to the Zongo Valley in late December 2000. The Zongo Valley is a large canyon located two hours outside of La Paz, Bolivia, on the other side of a 15,600-foot mountain pass.  The area is anchored by the River Zongo, and the Bolivian Electric Authority (COBEE) operates numerous hydroelectric plants along its path. On March 4, 2001, Walter Poirier’s mother reported that her son had not been in contact with his family for several weeks.  Mrs. Poirier’s last contact with her son occurred via electronic mail on January 31, 2001.  Poirier is the only volunteer in the 45-year history of the Peace Corps who has gone missing and never been found, and his case has therefore remained a high priority for the agency.  

On a rainy afternoon in February, 2001, Walter Poirier left the small village of Coscapa (elevation 11,500 feet) on foot, following a community meeting and against the advice of local villagers, who later stated this was a very hard rainstorm.  Walter was en route to a schoolhouse in the village of Liaullini (elevation 10,500 feet), where he had a sleeping bag stored.  He was following a hydroelectric "aqueduct trail," which is bisected by drainages that would have experienced significant run-off at the time Walter was hiking this trail.

The search area was established on the theory that Walter was swept off the aqueduct trail while attempting to traverse a water crossing during the first five kilometers of this trail and carried a significant distance down this steep terrain, which is covered with dense vegetation. The challenging topography of the area forced search personnel to rappel alongside waterfalls and cut their way through dense underbrush with machetes. 

Following six days of extensive searching (from September 16th to the 21st) in “high probability” search segments, no associated clues were located. Searchers believe that Poirier’s remains are either buried under debris flows or have been washed out of the search area.  Although unsuccessful in locating the remains of their son, this organized joint-agency search effort may provide the family with a better understanding of what may have happened to their son and a greater sense of closure in dealing with their loss. 

Contact Information
Name: Ken Phillips, Operations Chief