Junior Thomas pauses on top of Red Mesa, gazing into the vast landscape as he searches for any traces of his missing son, Duane Thomas, in the Navajo Nation last month. Duane Thomas has been missing for 14 years.
Devena Thomas, sister of Duane Thomas, shows a photo of her brother to the Journal in Holbrook, Ariz. Thomas went missing in March 2011 in the Navajo Nation near Red Mesa, Arizona.
Ray Kieyoani, who is the team leader of Dzil Yi Jiin Rescue, a search and rescue group based out of Pinon in the Navajo Nation, searches for human remains for the family of missing person Duane Thomas on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz. last month. Thomas went missing 14 years ago.
Family members, including Danielsen Thomas, left, Duane’s brother; Jeremiah Thomas, Duane’s son; Dorwin Thomas, Duane’s twin brother; Devena Thomas, Duane’s sister; and Junior Thomas, Duane’s father, at their home near Dilkon, Arizona.
Devena Thomas, sister of Duane Thomas, tears up while talking about human remains discovered in Red Mesa, Ariz. in April. “It’s scary because we’re gonna have to accept that he’s not here anymore,” Devena Thomas said. “He’s not gonna come home.”
Junior Thomas searches for remains of his missing son, Duane Thomas, on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz. last month. Thomas went missing 14 years ago.
Ray Kieyoani, who is the team leader of Dzil Yi Jiin Rescue, a search and rescue group based out of Pinon in the Navajo Nation, searches for human remains for the family of missing person Duane Thomas on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz., last month. Thomas went missing 14 years ago, making any search for him exceedingly difficult, Kieyoani said.
Dorwin Thomas places a flag, marking areas where unidentified bones are present, as he searches for remains of his missing twin brother, Duane Thomas, on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz., last month. Duane Thomas would be 44 if he were alive today.
A baby doll lies on the ground, scorched by the sun on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Arizona. Family members of Duane Thomas search the area he was last reported to be seen.
Junior Thomas pauses on top of Red Mesa, gazing into the vast landscape as he searches for any traces of his missing son, Duane Thomas, in the Navajo Nation last month. Duane Thomas has been missing for 14 years.
Devena Thomas, sister of Duane Thomas, shows a photo of her brother to the Journal in Holbrook, Ariz. Thomas went missing in March 2011 in the Navajo Nation near Red Mesa, Arizona.
Ray Kieyoani, who is the team leader of Dzil Yi Jiin Rescue, a search and rescue group based out of Pinon in the Navajo Nation, searches for human remains for the family of missing person Duane Thomas on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz. last month. Thomas went missing 14 years ago.
Family members, including Danielsen Thomas, left, Duane’s brother; Jeremiah Thomas, Duane’s son; Dorwin Thomas, Duane’s twin brother; Devena Thomas, Duane’s sister; and Junior Thomas, Duane’s father, at their home near Dilkon, Arizona.
Devena Thomas, sister of Duane Thomas, tears up while talking about human remains discovered in Red Mesa, Ariz. in April. “It’s scary because we’re gonna have to accept that he’s not here anymore,” Devena Thomas said. “He’s not gonna come home.”
Junior Thomas searches for remains of his missing son, Duane Thomas, on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz. last month. Thomas went missing 14 years ago.
Ray Kieyoani, who is the team leader of Dzil Yi Jiin Rescue, a search and rescue group based out of Pinon in the Navajo Nation, searches for human remains for the family of missing person Duane Thomas on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz., last month. Thomas went missing 14 years ago, making any search for him exceedingly difficult, Kieyoani said.
Dorwin Thomas places a flag, marking areas where unidentified bones are present, as he searches for remains of his missing twin brother, Duane Thomas, on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz., last month. Duane Thomas would be 44 if he were alive today.
A baby doll lies on the ground, scorched by the sun on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Arizona. Family members of Duane Thomas search the area he was last reported to be seen.
Junior Thomas pauses on top of Red Mesa, gazing into the vast landscape as he searches for any traces of his missing son, Duane Thomas, in the Navajo Nation last month. Duane Thomas has been missing for 14 years.
Chancey Bush/Journal
Devena Thomas, sister of Duane Thomas, shows a photo of her brother to the Journal in Holbrook, Ariz. Thomas went missing in March 2011 in the Navajo Nation near Red Mesa, Arizona.
Chancey Bush/Journal
Dorwin Thomas places a flag, marking areas where unidentified bones are present, as he searches for remains of his missing twin brother, Duane Thomas, on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz., last month. Duane Thomas would be 44 if he were alive today.
Chancey Bush/Journal
Dorwin Thomas holds a poster of his missing twin brother, Duane Thomas, at their childhood home near Dilkon, Arizona.
Chancey Bush/Journal
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Junior Thomas pauses on top of Red Mesa, gazing into the vast landscape as he searches for any traces of his missing son, Duane Thomas, in the Navajo Nation last month. Duane Thomas has been missing for 14 years.
Chancey Bush/Journal
Devena Thomas, sister of Duane Thomas, shows a photo of her brother to the Journal in Holbrook, Ariz. Thomas went missing in March 2011 in the Navajo Nation near Red Mesa, Arizona.
Chancey Bush/Journal
Dorwin Thomas places a flag, marking areas where unidentified bones are present, as he searches for remains of his missing twin brother, Duane Thomas, on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz., last month. Duane Thomas would be 44 if he were alive today.
Chancey Bush/Journal
Dorwin Thomas holds a poster of his missing twin brother, Duane Thomas, at their childhood home near Dilkon, Arizona.
RED MESA, Ariz. — Rising more than 100 feet in dusty red sandstone, from this mesa you can see the entirety of the Four Corners region stretching out past the horizon. Yet a group of men — armed with walking sticks, shovels and two-by-fours — kept their eyes steadfastly down.
It would be beautiful, many of them remarked, if it wasn’t a graveyard.
Ray Kieyoani, who is the team leader of Dzil Yi Jiin Rescue, a search and rescue group based out of Pinon in the Navajo Nation, searches for human remains for the family of missing person Duane Thomas on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz. last month. Thomas went missing 14 years ago.
Family members, including Danielsen Thomas, left, Duane’s brother; Jeremiah Thomas, Duane’s son; Dorwin Thomas, Duane’s twin brother; Devena Thomas, Duane’s sister; and Junior Thomas, Duane’s father, at their home near Dilkon, Arizona.
Devena Thomas, sister of Duane Thomas, tears up while talking about human remains discovered in Red Mesa, Ariz. in April. “It’s scary because we’re gonna have to accept that he’s not here anymore,” Devena Thomas said. “He’s not gonna come home.”
Junior Thomas searches for remains of his missing son, Duane Thomas, on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz. last month. Thomas went missing 14 years ago.
Ray Kieyoani, who is the team leader of Dzil Yi Jiin Rescue, a search and rescue group based out of Pinon in the Navajo Nation, searches for human remains for the family of missing person Duane Thomas on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Ariz., last month. Thomas went missing 14 years ago, making any search for him exceedingly difficult, Kieyoani said.
A baby doll lies on the ground, scorched by the sun on the Navajo Nation in Red Mesa, Arizona. Family members of Duane Thomas search the area he was last reported to be seen.
