Farmington police seek assistance in cold case

• Aaron Goldin contacted police in September 2016 after he was unable to reach his dad by phone.
• Goldin is 5-foot-10 and weighed 220 pounds at the time of his disappearance.
• Those wishing to make an anonymous tip can contact San Juan County Crime Stoppers at 505-334-8477.

FARMINGTON — Law enforcement officials are seeking assistance in their investigation of a missing 83-year-old Washington man who came to the Four Corners region to hunt for treasure.

Detectives for the Farmington Police Department are asking anyone with information on Lynn R. Goldin, who traveled from Vancouver, Wash., in August 2016 to visit Hogback in search of treasure, according to a Farmington police press release.

Goldin has not been seen since departing for Hogback.

Farmington police spokeswoman Georgette Allen said there was no specific treasure Goldin was searching for and that the department is the only agency investigating the case.

Goldin is 5-foot-10 and weighed 220 pounds at the time of his disappearance. He had short white/gray hair with a white beard and no scars or tattoos.

He would often wear a hat, a Black Hills gold crucifix and wore loose-fitting pants, according to the press release.

At the time, Goldin was driving his gray Hummer H2 with a personalized Washington license plate of GOLDIN2.

Family members told police Goldin often traveled the country prospecting for treasure, adding it wasn't his first trip the to the Hogback area.

Goldin's son Aaron Goldin last spoke to his father on Aug. 29, 2016, as he drove to New Mexico.

It was on Sept. 10, 2016, that Aaron contacted the Farmington Police Department after he was unable to reach his father on the phone.

As part of the investigation, detectives learned Lynn made a purchase at the Walmart at 1400 W. Main St. in Farmington and purchased fuel at the Circle W gas station in Waterflow on U.S. Highway 64.

Since then, there has been no known contact with Lynn or activity on his credit card, and his vehicle has not been recovered, according to the press release.

A Sept. 22, 2016, airplane search by family members, and the New Mexico Badlands Search and Rescue team was not successful in finding any evidence in the case.

Anyone with information about Lynn R. Gold, including his vehicle, is asked to contact Detective Heather Chavez at 505-566-2370 or nonemergency dispatch at 505-334-6622.

Those wishing to make an anonymous tip can contact San Juan County Crime Stoppers at 505-334-8477.

Joshua Kellogg covers crime, courts and social issues for The Daily Times. He can be reached at 505-564-4627 or via email at jkellogg@daily-times.com.