Kevin was last seen playing in the upstairs of his family's summer home in Sugarbush, Minnesota at 4:45 p.m. on September 30, 1982. His mother went outside briefly; when she returned, Kevin had vanished. His dog, a six-month-old Springer Spaniel puppy named Flash, disappeared also, but his older brother was still inside the house. Flash, however, reappeared on October 5. In hopes of discovering clues as to Kevin's whereabouts, its coat was combed carefully and a veterinarian pumped its stomach; they found no evidence that Flash had eaten anything in days, other than swamp grass. Kevin has a scar on the right side of his chin. He also has a cleft chin. His speech is limited and he is hearing impaired.