Sadly, there isn’t much information available about the life Dennis led or about his untimely death.

On August 3, 1987, Dennis told his girlfriend that he was planning on traveling from their home in Jackson, CA to Alpine County, CA sometime in the day to visit his parents. Shortly after, around 6:30 am, she left for work. This would be the last time anyone saw Dennis alive.

When she returned home from work that evening, Dennis and his truck were gone. When he fails to return later that evening, Dennis’ girlfriend calls his parents to see if he is visiting like he mentioned earlier in the day. They inform her that he had never arrived at their home and that they don’t know where he would be.

In the following week, Dennis’ friends gather and begin searching his property. On August 10, 1987, authorities officially began their search for Dennis on and around his property.

Seventeen days after Dennis was last seen, his body was found in a mineshaft on his property.

There are very few details that have been made public about how Dennis is believed to have ended up in the mineshaft, though authorities have confirmed that his case is being investigated as a homicide.

A ‘Letter To The Editor’ alleges new information.

In a Letter To The Editor of the Ledger Dispatch, an individual claiming to be friends with Dennis alleges the following:

“We have, here in Amador County, another murdered victim by the name of Dennis Palmer. For the people who don’t know, Dennis was murdered at his home on Middle Bar in 1987. He was brutally beaten, runover, shot twice, then his body was disposed of in a mine shaft in his property.” - Steve Von Loehr.

He continues to explain that the Sheriff at the time of Dennis’ death, Bob Campbell, informed him that the lead detective working Dennis’ case knew who killed him. He adds that there was a witness to the event, and that authorities wanted to take his case to a Grand Jury, but it never happened. Authorities have not publicly confirmed these details.

Where the case stands today.

Today it has been more than 35 years since Dennis was murdered and there has been no new information released by authorities in several years. Dennis’ friends and family miss him dearly and are still waiting for any answers from law enforcement. If you have any information in Dennis’ case, please contact the Amador County Sheriff's Office at (209) 223-6515 or send your tip in an email to coldcase@amadorsheriff.org.