Fairfield native Dan Baker missing from Missoula area since June

Darryl L. Flowers
Fairfield Sun Times
A recent photo of Dan Baker, with his granddaughter, Kinsley.

I could hear the anguish in the voice of Sheree Curtiss when I called with a few questions about her son, Dan Baker, who has been missing since June 10. Her voice trembled, she was holding back tears as she tried to explain the worry any mother must feel when one of their children goes missing – no matter the age.

“Today has been tough,” she told me. “It’s Dan’s birthday.”

Daniel O’Neil Baker was born on August 27, 1976. He attended school in Fairfield.

Classmate Lane Pearson, who now lives in Utah, noticed a Facebook post by Dan’s daughter, Alexis Mehrer.

Pearson said that he “liked to look out for his classmates,” so when he noticed Alexis’ post about her dad being missing, he reached out to the family and other classmates. Then he came across another post by Alexis, “No one cared.”

“I couldn’t do much but sit behind a keyboard and share the fact that Danny is missing.”

Pearson first met Danny in the first grade at Fairfield.  “He was likeable, mischievous… not afraid of trouble. Brave, he did not back down. But he was not a scary person.”

Lance set up a Facebook page where friends and classmates of Danny can keep up with the progress for the search. Donations have come in, and a tipline (1-888-675-8911) has been established, and anyone with information can also contact the tipline by email, HelpFindDanB@gmail.com

The timeline leading up to Dan’s disappearance are as follows:

  • Tuesday, June 8 – Dan had been riding his motorcycle, but it developed a problem and he was walking along HWY 200 when a passerby offered him a ride. He was then dropped off in Potomac, MT. Dan’s motorcycle and helmet are later found at a location near Potomac, MT.
  • Wednesday, June 9 - Dan calls Amy (girlfriend) and reported that he had lost his phone, (he accidently left it in the vehicle that he had gotten a ride from on Tuesday) he reported that he was “OK” and had gotten a ride.
  • Thursday, June 10 – Dan calls Amy again from a borrowed phone. He has made his way to the Poverello Center in Missoula. Amy and Dan are coordinating a ride home when Dan realizes he does not have his wallet, it has been lost. Amy can hear Dan asking people in the background if they have seen a wallet, at this point the call is disconnected.

That is the last known communication anyone had from Dan. Later that day Amy goes to Missoula to look for Dan but is unable to locate him.

  • Friday, June 11 – Dan’s wallet is found by some bushes near the University of Montana campus by a grounds crew. His ID/License is not in the wallet but an insurance card with his work info in on it and they contact Dan’s boss to let them know they found a wallet.
  • Saturday, June 12 – This is the day of his daughter’s wedding, and he does not show up.
  • Monday, June 14 - Dan is officially declared missing.

Danny’s girlfriend, Amy, said that he did not go into work on that Monday or Tuesday, and that Danny “Seemed pretty normal. He had just gotten a raise and was happy with the boss’ recognition.” Dan was working for Skinner Enterprises in Helena. Amy described him as “incredibly creative. A man of all trades.”

Amy has known Dan for four years, and they have been dating since 2018.

Amy said that Danny’s bike was found near Culley’s, a bar and convenience store located on Highway 200 in Potomac. The key was in the bike’ his helmet was at the bike, and there appeared to be some minor damage to the bike.

A man in a truck gave Dan a ride. According to Amy, when he called her on June 9, Dan told her that he had “found some guys to take him to Missoula, where he was going to hang out until the 10th.” Then, Dan told Amy, he would call her back. Amy said that during the call, Dan did not seem disturbed.

Asked if this was the first time Dan had taken off like this, Amy replied, “no.”

“It’s been very hard,” said Amy. “His family has been very supportive. It was a hard weekend – it was his birthday.” She went on to say that since Lance Pearson had gotten involved, there had been some progress.

She and the family continue to work with the Missoula Police Department.

In Missoula County, there are currently 24 missing person cases.