Johnson was scheduled to visit his son in Jamestown, North Dakota, on October 15, 2011, but never arrived. He was last seen at the 4 Bears Casino and Lodge in New Town, North Dakota, in the early morning hours of October 16. Later that day, he was supposed to meet his sister in Valley City, North Dakota, and attend a Veterans Affairs (VA) Hospital appointment in Fargo on October 17 before heading to Needles, California, for the winter. Johnson never met his sister or attended the appointment and has not been heard from since. When his son checked his Riverdale, North Dakota, home, he found groceries left out and a half-packed suitcase. His medication and checkbook were found, but his vehicle—a gold 1982 Cadillac Fleetwood with North Dakota license plate HZZ466—was missing.