Stuart Isaac, a 48-year-old resident of Burtonsville, Maryland, left his home on September 6, 2010, leaving his family a note stating he intended to take a cross-country trip; no return date was given. On September 24, 2010, at approximately 6:30 p.m. Guam time (roughly 3:30 a.m. in Maryland), Isaac telephoned a high school friend living in Guam and spoke with her for about two hours, telling her he was en route to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. The friend later said the call was unusual because the two typically communicated by text or email rather than by phone; she is the last person known to have heard from him. On the evening of September 26, 2010, National Park Service staff conducting a routine patrol found Isaac's black 2009 Lexus IS-250, bearing Maryland vanity plates reading "BELLEK," abandoned and unlocked with the keys still inside, at the Craig Pass/Isa Lake parking area on the Grand Loop Road between Old Faithful and West Thumb. No hiking trails lead from that area, and Isaac was not known to have hiking or camping experience. He is described as a Pacific Islander man, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 215 to 230 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes, and may have worn a mustache. He has tattoos on his right triceps and on each shoulder blade. He was born in the Republic of Palau.
The disappearance is jointly investigated by the National Park Service and the Montgomery County, Maryland Police Department. Ground and air searches of the Yellowstone backcountry near Craig Pass were conducted in the days following the vehicle's discovery and turned up no trace of Isaac. His vehicle was recovered and is no longer outstanding. No suspect or person of interest has been publicly identified in connection with his disappearance, and the circumstances remain unexplained. As of this writing the case is unresolved and Isaac has not been located; he is listed with NamUs as Missing Person Case #MP17228. Anyone with information is asked to contact the National Park Service at 307-344-2607 or the Montgomery County, Maryland Police Department at 240-777-0788. Case Number 10-5951.
