On a quiet summer night in 1999, a 48-year-old man disappeared after what appeared to be a normal night out with friends in the sleepy town of Idaho Falls, Idaho. Darwin Vest, known to many as “spiderman” thanks to his unparalleled knowledge of spiders, left a local bar around 1 a.m. on June 3, 1999 — then seemingly vanished into thin air. For more than two decades, his case has haunted the residents of Idaho Falls as theories surrounding his case range from a tragic fall into the nearby river to something far more sinister.
Courtesy of Idaho Cold Cases
Episode Info
If you know anything about the June 1999 disappearance of Darwin Vest aka Spiderman, from Idaho Falls, Idaho, please contact the Idaho Falls Police Department at 208-529-1200. Or you can call the Idaho Cold Case tip line at 1-844-TIP-4040.
Darwin disappeared from Idaho Falls, Idaho, on June 3, 1999. He has not been seen or heard from since. He was wearing the watch pictured when he went missing. Photo Courtesy: Idaho Cold Cases
The Idaho Falls home where Darwin and his mother, Margaret Vest, lived. Photo Courtesy: audiochuck staff
The last known sighting of Darwin was around 1 a.m. when he exited this door at the Golden Crown, an Idaho Falls bar. Photo Courtesy: audiochuck staff
The last known sighting of Darwin was around 1 a.m. when he exited this door at the Golden Crown, an Idaho Falls bar. Photo Courtesy: audiochuck staff
The Golden Crown was the last place Darwin was seen. He and a friend, Lee Curtis, had gone to the bar for a nightcap after a night of trivia at another local bar. Pictured: Idaho Falls Police Captain Jeremy Galbreaith Photo Courtesy: audiochuck staff
Darwin was known to walk along the Snake River, which runs right through downtown Idaho Falls. A walkway hugs the river without any safety railings, so many people thought Darwin had fallen into the river after leaving the Golden Crown. Photo Courtesy: audiochuck staff
Captain Jeremy Galbreaith, IFPD, shows the steep hillside to the river. Photo Courtesy: audiochuck staff
A March 31, 2002, article in The Times News featured interviews with Darwin’s relatives pleading with the public to come forward with any information regarding his disappearance. Photo Courtesy: The Times News via Newspapers.com
Darwin was a respected researcher and hobo spider expert. He’s cited as a source in this July 12, 2006, South Idaho Press article about the species. Courtesy of: South Idaho Press via Newspapers.com
A July 23, 2006, article in The Times News about the disappearance of Darwin, also known as “spiderman.” Photo Courtesy: The Times News via Newspaper.com
According to this May 4, 2010, article in The Times News, Darwin and his sister, Rebecca Vest, gave the “hobo spider” its common name. Photo Courtesy: The Times News via Newspapers.com
According to this July 6, 2010, The Times News column, Darwin’s disappearance was an odd occurrence in the otherwise quiet town of Idaho Falls. Photo Courtesy: The Times News via Newspapers.com