In February 2020, Nicholas Colt Vigil took a trip to Las Vegas.
Sadly, this journey left behind more questions than answers.
Nicholas went to the bustling city for a UFC match.
As luck would have it, he walked away with a large sum of money.
However, just days later, Nicholas disappeared without a trace.
His sudden disappearance has left behind a devastated family and a mystery that continues to haunt Fortuna, California.
What happened to Nicholas Colt Vigil?
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| Nicholas Colt Vigil |
The Life of Nicholas Colt Vigil
At the time of his disappearance, Nicholas was 37 years old and living in Fortuna, California.
Nicholas was described by his family as a larger-than-life individual.
He was standing tall at 6'1" and weighing around 250 pounds.
Having recently lost 50 pounds, most of his photos no longer showed what he actually looked like.
This made it even harder for people to recognize him.
In 2016, he faced a marijuana possession charge.
Nicholas's life seemed to be closely linked to the cannabis culture, much like many others in the area at the time.
Some even suggest this may have contributed to his disappearance.
In February 2020, just a few weeks before the world would enter lockdown due to COVID-19, Nicholas decided to take a trip to Las Vegas for some entertainment.
While there, he won a substantial amount of money, but the exact amount remains unknown.
Was this a key factor in his disappearance or just a coincidence?
The Disappearance: A Routine Trip Turns Into a Mystery
On February 24, 2020, Nicholas left Las Vegas and headed back home to Fortuna.
He arrived at his mother Debbie's house around 3:00 AM on February 25.
Although exhausted, Nicholas said he would leave soon to meet a friend and pick up a check.
Nicholas left the house later that morning in his grey Ford 250 pickup truck, promising to return shortly.
Sadly, Nicholas never came back.
When Debbie noticed her son hadn’t returned, she became concerned.
However, her attempts to report him missing were brushed off by law enforcement, as Nicholas was an adult and had the freedom to come and go as he pleased.
Nicholas's friends also began to worry.
The friend he was supposed to meet claimed that Nicholas never arrived.
As days turned into weeks, it became clear that something was very wrong.
Unraveling the Clues: A Delayed Investigation
Two days later, on February 26, 2020, a forest worker in Weitchpec, California, noticed an abandoned truck.
He initially ignored it.
However, weeks later, in mid-April, he reported the truck after noticing that it had been broken into.
That’s when the authorities learned it belonged to Nick.
For weeks, the truck went unnoticed in a remote area near Weitchpec.
This small town is on the Hoopa Valley Reservation, which borders Humboldt and Yurok tribal lands.
This area, often called “lawless,” was a serious worry for many families living nearby.
When authorities finally searched the truck, they suspected it had been intentionally staged.
They believed that abandoning the truck was a deliberate attempt to mislead any potential search efforts.
The Theories: What Happened to Nicholas Vigil?
Several theories have surfaced regarding Nick’s disappearance.
1) Voluntary Disappearance - Nick’s cell phone last pinged near Blue Lake, California, on February 25, just hours after he left his mother’s house.
This location was about an hour’s drive from Fortuna.
This raised questions about why Nick traveled so far when he had told his mother he would “be right back.”
Was someone waiting for Nick in Blue Lake?
Could they have had bad intentions?
2) Foul Play: Another theory focuses on Nick’s gambling.
While Nick had just won a large sum of money in Vegas, could gambling debts have caught up to him?
Some speculate that someone might have known about his winnings and planned to rob him.
However, the robbery escalated into something far worse.
Additionally, the location of his truck in Weitchpec added another layer of mystery.
Weitchpec is known for its rich Native American history.
The region is also a focal point of tension between local authorities and the residents of the Hoopa and Yurok Reservations.
Also, the area’s history with cannabis cultivation also fueled speculation.
This led some to wonder whether his disappearance was connected to illegal activities in the area.
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| Nicholas Colt Vigil |
Where the Investigation Stands Today: A Community Waiting for Answers
The search for Nick has faced several challenges.
This includes a delayed response from law enforcement and the complexities of the area in which his truck was found.
Detectives have thoroughly searched Blue Lake Casino and Bear River Casino, places Nick often visited.
However, they found no signs of him on any of the surveillance footage.
Family and friends, including MMIP (Murdered and Missing Indigenous People) activist Jesse Armstrong, have tirelessly pushed for answers.
Jesse’s involvement highlights the unique complexity of Nick’s case, particularly since his truck was found on or near Native American reservation lands.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement and activists, there is still no sign of Nick.
His family continues to hope for answers, and they’ve even offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his discovery.
However, Humboldt County, with its notorious reputation, has not made the search easy.
The Legacy of Nicholas Vigil: A Name That Won’t Be Forgotten
The disappearance of Nicholas Vigil is another grim reminder of how swiftly someone can vanish without a trace.
Though the exact circumstances surrounding Nick’s disappearance remain unclear, his case has sparked renewed interest in the often-overlooked missing persons of Humboldt County.
As his family continues their search, they rely on the hope that someone, somewhere, holds the key to unlocking the mystery behind Nick’s disappearance.
Until that day comes, they will keep fighting for the truth and for Nick to be brought home.
If you have any information on Nicholas Vigil’s whereabouts, please contact the Fortuna Police Department at 707-725-7550.
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