WATFORD CITY, ND — The McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office is asking for help finding a 35-year-old man who was last seen walking along U.S. Highway 85 south of Watford City on October 9. Daniel Christopher Rausch was reported missing after deputies learned he had been traveling on foot in the area, according to the agency’s notice released Friday, October 16.
Authorities said Rausch had indicated he planned to leave North Dakota, with a possible trip to Dickinson before continuing on to Florida by bus. His current whereabouts have not been confirmed, and deputies are asking anyone who may have seen him or helped him get around to come forward.
Deputies say Rausch planned to leave North Dakota before heading to Florida
According to the sheriff’s office, Rausch told others he intended to leave the state and travel first to Dickinson. From there, he reportedly planned to continue toward Florida by bus. Investigators have not said whether he ever made it to another location or obtained transportation after he was last seen near Watford City.
The missing-person notice does not provide details about why he was in the area or what happened after he was seen walking along the highway. That leaves a gap in the timeline that investigators are now trying to fill with help from the public.
What McKenzie County officials say he was wearing and how he looks
The sheriff’s office said Rausch is approximately 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighs about 270 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes, according to the bulletin released by the agency.
Deputies also released two photographs of Rausch to help people identify him. Officials did not include any information about clothing in the notice, but they are urging residents, travelers and anyone who may have passed him along Highway 85 to check whether they recognize him from that day.
Public tips could help deputies trace his route south of Watford City
Investigators are especially interested in anyone who encountered Rausch near the highway, offered him a ride or otherwise had contact with him after October 9. The sheriff’s office said that kind of information could help establish where he went and whether he left the Watford City area on his own or with assistance.
Missing-person cases often depend on small but useful details from people who were nearby at the right time. In this case, authorities have not released additional information about circumstances surrounding his disappearance, so even partial sightings may be important to investigators.
How residents can contact the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office
Anyone with information about Daniel Christopher Rausch is asked to call the McKenzie County Sheriff’s Office at (701) 444-3654. Officials are also asking the public to share the missing-person information so more people can look for him.
The agency’s appeal suggests deputies are still trying to determine whether Rausch reached another town, boarded transportation or remains somewhere in the region. Until his location is confirmed, officials say public awareness remains one of the best tools available in the search.
Search effort centers on a Highway 85 sighting and an unconfirmed destination
The timeline provided by authorities is limited but clear: Rausch was last seen on foot south of Watford City on October 9, and the sheriff’s office publicly sought help a week later. That means investigators are working with a narrow window and few confirmed details about his movements after he was seen along U.S. Highway 85.
For now, the case hinges on whether someone noticed him on the road, in a vehicle or at a stop along the way. Deputies have not released any information suggesting foul play, and they have not said what may have led to his disappearance.