S A L T L A K E C I T Y , U T A H

deseretnews.com

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2009VOL. 160/NO. 169

STUART JOHNSON, DESERET NEWS

Kathleen and Roy Sneddon of Providence, Cache County, retraced their son’s steps after he disappeared in Shangri-La, China, in 2004.

Still hopingBy Sara Israelsen-HartleyDeseret News

PROVIDENCE, Cache County —The Sneddons still remember thefirst thing American officials toldthem when they learned their son,

David, was missing.“You cannot lose an American in

China,” mother Kathleen Sneddonrecounts. “I will never forget hear-ing that from the embassy.”That was five years ago.

And David Sneddon is still lost.“We have not given up,” Kath-

leen says. “We’re never giving upon it. The case is in our mindsconstantly.”David was 24 when he went

to China the summer before hissenior year at BYU. He spent thesummer improving his MandarinChinese in Beijing and touring

DAVIDSNEDDON

Y. student vanished in China 5 years ago; family believes he’s alive

the Yunnan Province.

MissingBut when he missed a flight

to Seoul for an importantbusiness meeting and thenmissed his flight back to theUnited States, his family knewsomething was wrong.Two weeks later, David’s

father, Roy, and David’s olderbrothers, Michael and James,

David’s steps and talking withlocal police.“We think he was picked up,”

Roy Sneddon said. “I don’tthink there’s a question aboutthat.”After several visits over as

many years, the family hastracked David’s steps throughTiger Leaping Gorge, then onto Shangri-La, where he waslast seen around noon on Aug.14, 2004.“It’s literally like he van-

ished,” James Sneddon says.“There have been no sightingsof him. … No money has beentaken from his bank account.His passport hasn’t crossedthe border of China since hefirst went in five years ago.He’s gone. A grown man

disappeared.”

were in China retracing

their necks.the Sneddons wore aroundDavid’s picture on the placardsshop owners who recognizedthe Sneddons met guides andformerly called Zhongdian,Shangri-La, and in Shangri-La,and then along the road toBoth on the gorge trail

ming.dangerous terrain in Wyo-hiker. He had been on moreScout and an experiencedBesides, David was an Eagle

and the river is too far away.The trail is too populated,

found.thicket where he couldn’t bethe river or even into a deepthat David fell off the trail intothey ruled out the possibilityTiger Leaping Gorge, wherealong the “High Trail” throughThe Sneddon men hiked

significant doubt, too.”we experienced, I would havehadn’t experienced the thingser. That’s their prerogative. If Ithink that’s laughable. Whatev-a large number of people whostill alive, and I know there’sJames says. “We believe he’she would have been found,”pened to him, an accident,“If something physical hap-

Theories

to China to look for her son,Kathleen, who has also been

extensive plans.Saints and a student withof Jesus Christ of Latter-daydevout member of The Churchjust wasn’t David’s style as aground,” his family says. Thatnese woman or went “under-think David ran off with a Chi-There’s also no reason to

killed,” Kathleen says.think that he’s died or beenthere’s no body, no reason to“Not to be gruesome, (but)

or clothes.while hiking or of his passportsmaller fanny pack David worebut there’s still no sign of theas well as his airline tickets,David’s set of LDS scriptures,that backpack, which heldThe Sneddons now have

never did.trail to get his backpack. Heat the beginning of the gorgeto go back to a youth hostelshould have boarded a busFrom Shangri-La, David

supposed to leave Shangri-La.place he visited before he wasowner in Korean— the lastcafé where David spoke to theThen there’s the Korean

States, Michael says.flight back home to the Uniteddays before he could get aHe stayed with David for fivehe was told to leave China.After his request was denied,

visa to go visit North Korea.Koreans in China, requested abeen studying displaced Northsion companion, who hadThen, David’s former mis-

couple.to the children of a Chinesesummer, David taught KoreanWhile in Beijing that fateful

MultiLing.language translation company,Korea for his brother Michael’sand then worked in Southmissionary in South KoreaDavid had served as an LDS

sense, Michael Sneddon says.That theory makes a lot of

seen.the area where David was lastVietnam and Burma, and it’sarea, because it borders Laos,province is a prime escapethrough China. The Yunnanroute for North Koreansground railroad, an escapeDavid was part of the under-wonders if someone believed

say anything at all.”It’s probably better just to notyear later, six months later?‘Oops, we made a mistake,’ aDo you release him and say,then how do you divulge that?there was nothing there, butdecided at some point thatsays. “We think they probablysuspected something,” Jamesthey were worried about orgroup grabbed him becausesome internal security“It’s very plausible that

are made of.Korean. That’s the stuff spiesent Mandarin Chinese andon his own, speaking flu-He’s a Westerner, traveling

questions.presence not to have raisedalmost impossible for David’sBesides, it would have been

Michael says.via the underground railroad,”Koreans travel through Chinawho help defecting Norththe South Korean Christians“David fits the profile of

cousins, nieces and nephewsnever even known David—under the age of 10 who have“I can tell you 25 children

through prayer.the Sneddons find strengthA deeply religious family,

off, his teeth will be rotted.he found a way to get thema dentist, told her that unlesshe left, and Kathleen’s nephew,David had braces on when

teeth.She’s even worried about his

hurt and starving.”dead rather than in prison oralmost be better if he wereKathleen says, “that it would“There’s times I reflect,”

Emotions

most.”sometimes what kills you theidea … the wonderment isBut when you don’t have anyafterlife, you can use that.regarding death and theon what your beliefs areknow that. And dependingdead, well, they’re dead. Youchild is,” he says. “If they’remother to wonder where a“It’s just too hard for a

his mom.James from worrying aboutagain, but that doesn’t stopconfident they will see DavidThe Sneddon men areThe answer is always yes.

him?’” Kathleen says.China. Are you still looking forber you. You lost a son inname and say, ‘Yes, I remem-people I hardly know hear my“I’m amazed at how many

struggle.haven’t forgotten the family’sEven complete strangers

strive earnestly to do better.”will in all things is something Itinued. “Learning to accept hiswill of the Lord,” Michael con-mortal sphere is to accept the“Part of our test here in this

Michael recounted.so that is why he’s not home,”preach the gospel in China,“Maybe God wants him to

back.prayers hadn’t brought Davidan explanation as to why theirson, Joshua, recently offeredMichael said his 7-year-old

voice breaking.prayers,’” Kathleen says, hernight I remember David in my— (and) they tell me, ‘Every

he is.years and don’t know wherehaven’t heard from him in fivehim his son is OK, even if theyspiritual impressions that tellsIt’s hard to convey the

says simply.“I don’t have that need,” heBut not Roy.

resolution, closure.Kathleen explains. She needsThat’s just her personality,

difficult for me to deal with it.”for the Smarts. But it is stillshe says. “I’m genuinely happybergers to have a resolution,”“I’m so happy for the Wil-

body.murder and led police to herney, recently confessed to her2004. Her captor, Joel Court-was kidnapped in Oregon inmore Brooke Wilberger, whocase of missing BYU sopho-Kathleen also followed the

in China.”America. And we can’t do thatence is … they did it here inKathleen says. “The differ-their daughter come home,”tion out that finally helpedkept working, got the informa-tence. … They’re the ones who“It was the Smarts’ persis-

before she was found.held captive for nine monthsLake City home in 2002 andwas abducted from her SaltElizabeth Smart, then 14,

models.says the Smarts are her roletheir situation, Kathleensomeone who can relate withAlthough it’s hard to find

Keeping up hope

interest in China anymore.pearance seems to be of littlethink of David daily, his disap-Although the Sneddons

response:bassy in Beijing merited thisAn e-mail to the U.S. Em-

David’s missing person report.the United States still revealsof the Consulate General ofthe Chengdu-China Web sitecase, although a search onbassy has closed David’sThe family says the em-

helpful.”regret that I cannot be morerization from the individual. Izens without specific autho-cases of private American citi-Embassy cannot comment ongan. “Unfortunately, the U.S.spokesman Richard Buan-inquiry,” wrote deputy press“Thank you for your recent

ately returned.ment of State was not immedi-A call to the U.S. Depart-

A3DESERET NEWS, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2009

SNEDDONContinued from A1

Michael — who after their2004 trip created a detailed,74-page report for the govern-ments of China and the U.S.,which outlines why theybelieve David is still alive —said he has been read internaldocuments that indicate theU.S. State Department has in-ternally concluded that Davidis dead.

But even without a case orofficial involvement, Kathleenstill researches and followsup on any information, herthoughts frequently drifting toChina.She has loved the country

for years, long before it swal-lowed her son.

She taught English toChinese students in Nebraska,and she and Roy taughtEnglish in China for severalsemesters through BYU.When they moved to

Providence several years ago,she befriended two Chinesewomen who wanted to learnEnglish.

On an especially cold day thefirst fall after David disap-peared, one of the womentold Kathleen about Chinesewinters.“It’s just cold there,” she told

her. “It’s cold all the time. Younever get warm.”

The protective motherpauses briefly after remember-ing the words of her friend,then says simply,“I hope David’s warm.”

E-MAIL: sisraelsen@desnews.com

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