Erthal was last seen on October 11, 2006, in the 20 block of Sumi Court in Oroville, California. At the time, he was splitting his living arrangements between friends and a trailer park on Olive Highway, near the Gold Country Casino, where he shared a residence with a roommate. On the day of his disappearance, Erthal and his roommate were involved in a physical altercation. Following the incident, Erthal left the scene on foot and was never seen or heard from again. He left his wallet and identification behind at the trailer park. About two weeks later, Erthal’s roommate passed away from a drug overdose. Since Erthal’s disappearance, there have been instances where his name and date of birth appeared on the national firearms clearance system, suggesting that either he or someone using his identity has attempted to purchase firearms. His case remains unsolved, and foul play is suspected.