Steven Sanches, 29, of Rock Springs, Wyoming, was last seen leaving the campus of Western Wyoming Community College around 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2026. Sanches, who had recently enrolled in the college's welding program for the Spring 2026 semester, spoke by phone with family members that morning: he called his mother's fiancé around 8:52 a.m., sent a family member a social media video around 10:15 a.m., and spoke with his fiancée by phone for about 30 minutes beginning around 11:30 a.m., during which he mentioned a possible trip to Colorado with friends the next day. Campus security video shows him walking away from the college around 12:15 p.m.; he was not captured on any other cameras and did not return to campus or to his home that evening. Some witnesses reported to police that Sanches was seen getting into a white, four-door sedan with a black bumper around that time, though police have not confirmed this report or identified the vehicle. Sanches does not own a vehicle. He was last seen wearing brown pants and a green sweatshirt. He is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs approximately 145 pounds, wears glasses with camouflage-print rims, and has an autoimmune condition causing hair loss for which he frequently wears hats. He has three tattoos on his upper left chest bearing the dates of death of family members and friends.
Sanches's fiancée contacted a family friend on the morning of Feb. 6, who reported him missing to the Rock Springs Police Department (RSPD) around 9 a.m. RSPD is the lead agency; the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) is also taking tips. Investigators have attempted to ping Sanches's cellphone, which goes straight to voicemail, in coordination with his carrier, without success. The desert area surrounding the college campus has been searched by drone. One of Sanches's Facebook accounts reportedly showed activity after his disappearance; it is not confirmed that Sanches was the one using it, and police have been working to obtain a warrant to access it. As of the most recent public update (April 2026), RSPD stated there is no indication Sanches was a victim of foul play, though the investigation remains open, and there have been no confirmed sightings of him since Feb. 5, 2026. RSPD case number: R26-02262.
