The Hunted Homestead: The Unsolved 1987 Idaho Family Vanishing

In the remote Clearwater Mountains of Idaho, approximately twenty-three miles from the small logging town of Orofino, the Blackwood family homestead sits abandoned—a decaying monument to one of the most perplexing disappearances in the Pacific Northwest. What happened to the five members of the Blackwood family during the historic blizzard of February 1987 remains one of Idaho's most disturbing unsolved mysteries, one that local residents still discuss in hushed tones.

The Blackwood Family

James Blackwood (42), his wife Sarah (39), and their three children—Michael (17), Rebecca (15), and Daniel (8)—moved to the isolated 80-acre property in 1982. James, a former forest ranger who had grown disillusioned with increasing bureaucracy, purchased the homestead with his savings and a small inheritance. The property included a two-story farmhouse built in the 1930s, a large barn, and various outbuildings.

Neighbors described the Blackwoods as self-sufficient but not reclusive. The family raised livestock, maintained extensive gardens, and James supplemented their income with seasonal forestry consulting work. Sarah homeschooled the children, though Michael and Rebecca occasionally attended events at Orofino High School.

Melvin Hawkins, owner of Hawkins General Store in Orofino, knew the family well: "James would come to town every two weeks like clockwork for supplies. They weren't survivalists or anything like that—just a family that preferred rural living. Sarah was always planning their spring garden, and the kids seemed well-adjusted despite the isolation."

The Last Confirmed Contact: February 7, 1987

On February 7, 1987, James Blackwood made his regular supply run to Orofino. Security footage from Hawkins General Store shows him purchasing typical provisions: flour, coffee, ammunition for his hunting rifle, batteries, and several paperback books that Sarah had ordered.

James appeared to be in good spirits, according to Hawkins. "He mentioned that they were preparing for the forecasted snow, but he wasn't concerned. They had weathered worse storms in previous years."

The store's receipt, preserved in the case file, shows James completed his purchase at 3:47 PM. He was recorded leaving the parking lot in his blue 1979 Ford F-150 at approximately 4:00 PM.

Radio dispatcher logs from the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office contain a brief exchange with James at 4:35 PM. He reported over CB radio that light snow had begun falling and that he was approximately halfway home. This was the last verified communication from any member of the Blackwood family.

The Storm

The blizzard that descended upon Idaho's Clearwater region that night exceeded forecasts. Between February 7 and February 10, an estimated 52 inches of snow fell, accompanied by winds exceeding 45 mph, creating drifts up to 12 feet high in some areas. County roads became impassable, and even emergency services suspended operations during the height of the storm.

When conditions improved on February 11, James Blackwood failed to make his scheduled call to the Forest Service office where he occasionally consulted. This wasn't immediately concerning, given the extreme weather conditions and the Blackwoods' self-sufficiency.

Initial Investigation: February 13, 1987

On February 13, when roads were finally cleared enough for travel, Deputy Sheriff Thomas Conrad conducted a welfare check at the Blackwood property. His official report documents what he found:

"Arrived at Blackwood homestead at approx. 1040 hours. The subject's vehicle (a blue Ford pickup) is present in the driveway, partially covered with snow. No smoke from the chimney despite the cold temperatures. No response to repeated knocking. After announcing police presence, they entered the residence through the unlocked front door at 1055 hours.

The house appears undisturbed but empty. Woodstove cold, containing ash from previous fire. Evidence of a partially consumed breakfast on the kitchen table (three plates with dried food, two coffee mugs, one child's cup with milk residue). No signs of struggle or forced entry. All family members' winter coats were missing from the hooks by the door. The rifle cabinet was unlocked, and James Blackwood's .30-06 hunting rifle was absent. The subject's wallet, vehicle keys, and wife's purse were on the kitchen counter."

Conrad's report notes that he followed the procedure for a missing persons case, including a thorough search of all buildings on the property. The family's livestock (two milk cows, approximately one dozen chickens, and one dog) had been found dead in the barn, apparently from exposure after the barn door had been left open.

The most disturbing finding came when Conrad circled the house's perimeter:

"Multiple sets of footprints visible in snow around property, partially filled in by lighter snowfall. Prints appear to include all family members based on size comparison (two adults, one teenage male, one teenage female, one child). Footprints form an unusual pattern, beginning at the house and circling the perimeter repeatedly before leading toward the forest line approx. 300 yards from residence. Additionally noted what appear to be barefoot human prints circling the house in the opposite direction, which cannot be attributed to any family member. These unidentified prints maintain a consistent 20-foot distance from the house's exterior walls, completing at least 7 full circuits based on visible sections. Most concerning is that these anomalous prints do not lead to or from anywhere—they form a closed loop around the residence."

A forensic technician who photographed these footprints later resigned from the department. In his exit interview, he refused to discuss the Blackwood case specifically but cited "personal reasons related to occupational stress."

The Extended Search: February-April 1987

The Clearwater County Sheriff's Office launched a full-scale search operation that eventually involved:

24 law enforcement officers

3 search and rescue dog teams

78 local volunteers

2 Idaho Army National Guard helicopters

The search concentrated on the heavily forested areas surrounding the property, using the footprint trail as an initial guide. This trail led approximately one-quarter mile into the forest before disappearing near Freeman Creek, where the ground had been exposed to less snowfall under the dense canopy.

Despite exhaustive efforts, no physical evidence of the Blackwoods was discovered beyond the property boundary. No bodies, no clothing items, no shell casings from James's missing rifle, and most puzzling—no further tracks beyond the creek.

Sheriff Robert Langston held a press conference on February 28, 1987:

"We are dealing with a situation that defies conventional explanation. Five people don't simply vanish without leaving some trace. We're considering all possibilities, including that the family may have been prepared to disappear intentionally, though we've found no evidence of financial troubles or other motivations that would support this theory."

Background investigations revealed no financial irregularities, no outstanding debts, no evidence of criminal activity, and no history of mental illness in any family member. James and Sarah's bank accounts remained untouched. The children's personal possessions—including Michael's prized baseball card collection and Rebecca's journals—remained in their rooms.

The Journal Entries: A Troubling Timeline

The most significant clues came from Rebecca Blackwood's diary, discovered during the investigation. Her final three entries have become central to the case:

February 5, 1987: "Dad thinks someone's been on our property at night. The cows have been acting strange, and Ranger [the family dog] keeps growling at the tree line even when nothing's there. Mom says it's probably just wolves, but I haven't heard any howling."

February 6, 1987: "Michael saw it too now. We were collecting firewood near the north fence and both saw something standing between the trees. Dad got his binoculars but said he couldn't make out any details because it kept moving just enough to stay partially hidden. He's going to town tomorrow to get more ammunition just in case. Said it was probably a bear, but it's February—aren't they supposed to be hibernating? Whatever it was, it was watching us. I could feel it."

February 7, 1987 (final entry): "Dad just got back from town. The snow is getting worse. Something was circling the house last night—Michael heard it too. We could hear the footsteps in the snow going round and round. Dad says we're going to take turns keeping watch tonight. He—"

The entry ends mid-sentence.

Strange Findings and Inconsistencies

As the investigation progressed, several details emerged that complicated the case further:

James Blackwood's truck contained all the supplies purchased in town, untouched in the truck bed, partially covered by snow but protected by a tarp that had been carefully secured.

The family dog, Ranger, was found in the barn unlike the other animals. Veterinary examination revealed it had died from a single crushing blow to the skull, not from exposure or predator attack.

All electric power in the house was functioning, but several lamps appeared to have burned out simultaneously. According to the electrical inspector, this would typically indicate a power surge of significant magnitude.

Weather records from a forest service monitoring station 3 miles from the property recorded an anomalous temperature drop of 18 degrees within a ten-minute period at approximately 8:15 PM on February 7, far exceeding normal meteorological patterns even during severe weather.

A partial fingerprint found on the family's back door didn't match any family member or any individual in criminal databases. Forensic analysis indicated unusual distortion, described in the lab report as "consistent with extreme cold exposure or frostbite distortion."

Perhaps most disturbing was evidence cataloged by CSI Technician Linda Ramirez on February 14:

"Upon processing the hallway connecting the home's living room to the children's bedrooms, luminol testing revealed unusual blood droplet patterns on the floorboards. The pattern forms an unbroken line exactly 16 inches from both walls, running the entire 20-foot length of the hallway. DNA analysis confirms the blood matches youngest child Daniel Blackwood. Pattern analysis suggests the blood was deposited while in motion, consistent with a nosebleed while walking. However, the perfectly straight line maintained equidistant from both walls defies natural movement patterns."

The Abandoned Investigation

By April 1987, with no bodies recovered and no further evidence discovered, the active investigation was scaled back. The case remained open but unassigned until 1995, when it was officially classified as a cold case.

Sheriff Langston, who retired in 1992, gave only one interview about the case after leaving office. Speaking to the Spokane Spokesman-Review in 1997, he said:

"In thirty years of law enforcement, I never encountered anything like the Blackwood disappearance. Five people don't walk into the woods during a blizzard and vanish without a single trace. The physical evidence at that scene—particularly those footprints circling the house—contradicted natural behavior patterns. I'm a rational man who believes in rational explanations, but this case tested those beliefs."

Local Legends and Aftermath

In the decades since the disappearance, the Blackwood case has become something of a regional legend. The property remained in legal limbo until 1994, when it was auctioned for back taxes. Two subsequent owners have abandoned the property after brief occupancy periods. The last owners, a couple from California who purchased the property in 2006 intending to renovate the farmhouse, left after just seven months.

When contacted by the Orofino Observer in 2007, the husband would only say: "Some places don't want to be occupied. The locals tried to warn us. We should have listened."

Local teenagers occasionally attempt to visit the property on dares, particularly around the anniversary of the disappearance. In 2012, three high school students trespassing on the property reported seeing "a tall figure watching from the tree line" that they initially mistook for a dead tree until it moved.

Melvin Hawkins, now 82 and still operating his general store, perhaps best summarizes local sentiment: "People around here don't talk much about what happened to the Blackwoods. But you'll notice nobody hunts on that land anymore, and the county road crews always finish their work near that property before dark, even in summer. Whatever happened out there, it left a mark on this community."

The Official Record

The Blackwood family case (#CR-87-0342) remains officially classified as an unsolved multiple missing persons case. The FBI briefly consulted on the investigation but found insufficient evidence of kidnapping or interstate flight to justify federal involvement.

Officially, the prevailing theory remains that the family attempted to leave their property during the blizzard for unknown reasons and succumbed to the elements. Their bodies, according to this explanation, were either buried by subsequent snowfall or scattered by predators beyond the search perimeter.

This theory, however, fails to address several critical questions that continue to haunt investigators who remember the case:

Why would the entire family leave their secure, well-supplied home during a blizzard?

Why were no remains ever found despite extensive searches when weather improved?

What explanation could account for the unidentified footprints that circled the house?

Who—or what—had the family been watching from their windows in the days before they vanished?

As retired Deputy Conrad, now living in Montana, stated in a 2018 podcast interview: "Some cases you solve, some stay with you forever, and some... some you hope never to understand completely. The Blackwood case falls into that last category."

The Blackwood family homestead still stands today, slowly succumbing to the elements. Local real estate agents refuse to list the property despite inquiries from dark tourism enthusiasts and paranormal investigators.

Perhaps most tellingly, forest service maps of the region were quietly revised in 1995. The access road to the former Blackwood property, officially designated as County Road 237, was removed from public maps. When questioned about this decision, county officials cited "ongoing maintenance issues and public safety concerns."

For those familiar with the case, the message is clear: whatever happened to the Blackwood family in February 1987 remains in those woods, and the people of Clearwater County would prefer it stay there, undisturbed and uninvestigated.