Overview

Last seen: May 11, 1998
Location: His residence near Mile 298 of the Parks Highway, Nenana, Alaska
Status: Still missing
Age when missing: 35
NamUs case: MP7405

Main Circumstances

• Harbaugh was last known to be at his residence near Mile 298 of the Parks Highway.
• He was not heard from again after May 1998.
• Few details about the events immediately preceding his disappearance have been released publicly.
• Published sources differ on the official date of last contact, listing either May 11 or May 18, 1998.
• His disappearance remains unresolved, and no publicly confirmed explanation for what happened has been announced.

Detailed Case Breakdown

Steven Lee Harbaugh Missing Since 1998: The Unsolved Nenana, Alaska Disappearance

Steven Lee Harbaugh was 35 years old when he disappeared from the Nenana area of Alaska in May 1998. More than 28 years later, his whereabouts remain unknown, and his case continues to be listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System under NamUs case number MP7405.

Brief Case Summary

Last seen: May 11, 1998
Location: His residence near Mile 298 of the Parks Highway, Nenana, Alaska
Status: Still missing
Age when missing: 35
NamUs case: MP7405

Main Circumstances

• Harbaugh was last known to be at his residence near Mile 298 of the Parks Highway.
• He was not heard from again after May 1998.
• Few details about the events immediately preceding his disappearance have been released publicly.
• Published sources differ on the official date of last contact, listing either May 11 or May 18, 1998.
• His disappearance remains unresolved, and no publicly confirmed explanation for what happened has been announced.

Who Was Steven Lee Harbaugh?

Steven Lee Harbaugh was born on November 15, 1962. At the time of his disappearance, he was described as a white man with brown hair and brown or hazel eyes. He stood approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed about 165 pounds. The only accessory specifically documented in available case summaries is a watch.

Harbaugh had reportedly lived in several parts of the United States before residing in Alaska, including South Carolina, Massachusetts, Maine and Florida. Public case summaries also associate him with the names Steve Harbaugh, Steven L. Harbaugh, Richard J. Butterworth and Richard Joseph Butterworth.

In the months before his disappearance, Harbaugh reportedly obtained a marriage license to marry Agatha Keyes on March 23, 1998. Another marriage license involving the couple had reportedly been obtained on September 22, 1997. These details provide background information but have not been publicly identified by investigators as evidence of what caused his disappearance.

The Disappearance Near Mile 298 of the Parks Highway

The most widely reported account states that Harbaugh was last seen on May 11, 1998, at his residence near Mile 298 of the Parks Highway in Nenana. After that date, relatives were unable to contact him, and he was never heard from again. No detailed account of who last saw him, what he was doing or whether anything unusual was found at the residence has been released in the publicly available case summaries.

A date discrepancy exists in the records. The NamUs listing gives May 18, 1998, as Harbaugh’s date of last contact, and the Doe Network also uses May 18. Other case sources, including the Alaska information cited by the Charley Project, identify May 11 as the date he was last seen. One source notes that some agencies have also listed October 8, 1998, although his family reportedly had not been able to reach him since May.

Because the public record contains conflicting dates, May 11, 1998, is best described as the most frequently reported last-seen date, while May 18 remains the date of last contact recorded by NamUs.

Why the Case Remains Difficult to Explain

Very little information about the initial investigation has been made public. Available records do not describe a confirmed crime scene, known travel plans, an abandoned vehicle, a final telephone call or a verified sighting after Harbaugh left his residence.

There has also been no publicly announced determination that he voluntarily left Nenana, suffered an accident or became the victim of a crime. Without a detailed last-known sequence of events, investigators have few publicly known reference points from which to reconstruct his movements.

The rural setting surrounding Nenana and the Parks Highway may also complicate searches. However, authorities have not publicly stated that Harbaugh entered the wilderness or encountered a specific hazard, so any such explanation remains speculative.

Latest Publicly Available Investigation Information

As of August 1, 2026, Harbaugh remains listed as a missing person in NamUs under case MP7405. The NamUs record was created on April 12, 2021, and continues to identify Nenana, Alaska, as the location connected to his disappearance.

A review of currently available Alaska Department of Public Safety pages, NamUs and established missing-person case records did not locate a publicly announced identification, arrest, recovery of remains or confirmed breakthrough in Harbaugh’s case. The absence of a public announcement does not necessarily mean investigators have received no tips or conducted no additional work; investigative activity may not be disclosed while a case remains open.

The Alaska Department of Public Safety continues to provide access to active missing-person information, while the current non-emergency dispatch number for Interior and Western Alaska is 907-451-5100. Anonymous information may also be submitted by texting AKTIPS and the tip to 847411.

Physical Description

Harbaugh was 35 when he disappeared. He was approximately 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed about 165 pounds. He had brown hair and brown or hazel eyes. He may have been wearing a watch when he was last seen. Detailed clothing information has not been publicly documented.

Anyone comparing Harbaugh with an unidentified person should account for normal changes in appearance, including aging, weight changes, facial hair and differences between photographs taken under varying conditions.

How to Report Information

Anyone with information concerning Steven Lee Harbaugh’s disappearance, his activities in May 1998 or a possible sighting after he left Nenana should contact the Alaska State Troopers.

People who knew Harbaugh in Alaska, South Carolina, Massachusetts, Maine or Florida may possess information that seemed insignificant at the time but could help establish his plans, relationships, transportation or communications before he vanished.

For emergencies or an immediate sighting, call 911. For non-emergency information, contact the Alaska State Troopers at 907-451-5100 and reference Steven Lee Harbaugh and NamUs MP7405.