Gene Cloud Jr. Missing From Jackson County Since 2012

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More than 14 years have passed since Gene Jacob Cloud Jr. disappeared in southern Jackson County, Wisconsin.

There have been searches, reported sightings and years of unanswered questions, but no confirmed trace of Gene has ever been found.

His disappearance remains listed as an active missing-person case, and a reward of up to $25,000 is being offered. 

The morning Gene disappeared

Gene was last seen at approximately 7:05 a.m. on January 25, 2012, in Millston Township.

He had been driving on County Road O when the vehicle he was operating entered a ditch. A Jackson County Sheriff’s deputy witnessed what happened and stopped to assist him.

During the roadside encounter, Gene suddenly fled on foot into a wooded area. The deputy attempted to follow him but lost sight of him among the trees. 

The available accounts indicate that Gene may have had minor outstanding warrants at the time. That may explain why he ran, but it does not explain what happened afterward.

Footprints, a roadway and a trail that disappeared

According to an account published by Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy, searchers followed footprints through deep snow for more than three miles.

The tracks reportedly moved through the woods, sometimes crossing the roadway before returning to the trees. Tracking dogs were later brought into the area and reportedly lost Gene’s scent near a road.

That raised a question that remains unanswered: Did Gene get into someone’s vehicle?

The Wisconsin Department of Justice says Gene was reportedly seen a short time later walking along Highway O. Jackson County Crime Stoppers also reported that witnesses saw him attempting to flag down passing vehicles. 

No confirmed sighting has publicly established what happened to him after that morning.

Gene was preparing for a new chapter

At the time of his disappearance, Gene was preparing to become a father.

According to Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy, he had moved to Tomah to be closer to his pregnant girlfriend. He was reportedly working toward completing his high school education and wanted to help support his growing family. 

Running from a deputy may have been a frightened decision made in a moment, but it should not have resulted in Gene disappearing from the world.

His family has now spent more than a decade waiting for answers.

Description of Gene Cloud Jr.

Gene was approximately 20 years old when he disappeared. He would now be 34.

Full name: Gene Jacob Cloud Jr. 

Nickname: Breezy 

Date of birth: December 7, 1991 

Height: 5 feet, 8 inches 

Weight: Approximately 140 pounds 

Hair: Black 

Eyes: Brown 

Race: Native American 

Tribal affiliation: Ho-Chunk Nation 

Gene was last seen wearing a black stocking hat, black jeans, a red hooded sweatshirt, a black leather jacket and black shoes. Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy also reports that his left ear was pierced and that he had a tattoo on his left hand. 

$25,000 reward offered

A reward of up to $25,000 is being offered in connection with Gene’s return or recovery.

According to the Jackson County Crime Stoppers notice, the reward is offered by the Ho-Chunk Nation.

The determination and distribution of any reward will be handled solely by the Ho-Chunk Nation. 

Someone may remember seeing Gene walking near County Road O. Someone may know who stopped for him, where he intended to go or who he contacted before he disappeared.

Even a detail that seemed unimportant in 2012 could help investigators today.

Submit information about Gene’s disappearance

Anyone with information may contact:

Jackson County Sheriff’s Office

715-284-5357

Jackson County Crime Stoppers

1-800-228-3203, extension 199

Tips may also be submitted through the Jackson County Crime Stoppers website, P3Tips.com or the P3 Tips mobile application. Crime Stoppers tips may be submitted anonymously.

Information may also be submitted to the:

Wisconsin Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children and Adults

1-800-843-4673

Do not assume someone else has already reported what you know. Do not post accusations, names or unverified theories publicly. Send credible information directly to investigators.

Help keep Gene’s case visible

Gene Cloud Jr. is more than a missing-person poster.

He is a son, a father and a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation whose family deserves to know what happened to him.

Share his photograph. Share his name. Share the official tip information.

After more than 14 years, one memory, one conversation or one overlooked detail could finally provide the answer his family has been waiting for.

Sources: Wisconsin Department of Justice Missing Persons Clearinghouse, National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, Jackson County Crime Stoppers and Wisconsin Missing Persons Advocacy. 

On a cool March evening in 1981, Jack Alden Walcott, a quiet and unassuming 73-year-old, left his Jackson County, Wisconsin home for what would become his final known journey. Jack, or “John” to some, was last seen in the passenger seat of his gold 1976 Dodge Colt sedan, driven by an unidentified man. Witnesses reported three additional adults in the car with him. By the following morning, his vehicle had been returned to his driveway. Jack, however, was nowhere to be found.

Blood stains on the passenger seat suggested foul play, but no further evidence surfaced. For over four decades, Jack’s disappearance has haunted Jackson County, a small-town mystery that remains stubbornly unsolved. As his case lingers, it raises questions about trust, justice, and the fragility of human connections.

The Last Ride
Jack’s departure from his home was routine enough to go unnoticed by neighbors. A retiree known for his regular habits, Jack was reportedly seen getting into his car willingly, leaving many to speculate he may have known his companions. His gold Dodge Colt, a familiar sight around town, returned hours later as though nothing had happened—except for the chilling blood evidence on the passenger seat where Jack had been sitting.

In 1981, forensic technology was in its infancy. While the blood confirmed an act of violence, investigators could extract little more from the scene. Without witnesses, the returned vehicle offered more questions than answers. The most confounding: Who returned it, and why?

Theories Abound
Decades later, the mystery remains fertile ground for speculation. Multiple theories have surfaced, each painting a different picture of Jack’s final hours.

A Targeted Crime: Some believe Jack’s companions lured him into the car with malicious intent. The presence of blood suggests a violent confrontation, but with no signs of a struggle at the scene, investigators were left in the dark.

An Unlikely Escape: Others propose Jack may have staged his own disappearance to escape unknown troubles. However, this theory is widely doubted due to his age, lack of financial resources, and no prior indication of distress.

A Crime of Opportunity: Could Jack have fallen victim to a random act of violence? The identity of the three men remains a mystery, leaving this theory plausible but unsubstantiated.

Some more unconventional ideas persist, including ties to organized crime or even a personal vendetta, though Jack’s quiet life offered little evidence of enemies. Without fresh leads, the truth remains elusive.

A Community Reflects

Today, Jack Alden Walcott would be 116 years old. Though time has passed, his absence still lingers in the memories of those who knew him. Jack was remembered as kind and gentle, a man who enjoyed crossword puzzles and chatting with his neighbors. His unexplained disappearance left a mark on Jackson County, becoming the kind of story that’s retold at family gatherings and over coffee in small diners.

A local resident reflects on that fateful time: "Jack was a good man, always polite and cheerful. To think he just disappeared like that—it’s unsettling. We’ve all wondered what really happened that night."

Hope in Cold Cases
While the case has grown cold, advances in forensic technology and the introduction of DNA databases offer renewed hope. Unsolved cases from decades past have seen breakthroughs in recent years, and investigators remain optimistic that even the smallest tip could reignite the search for answers.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Even decades later, the hope of bringing closure to Jack’s case remains alive.

The Legacy of Jack Walcott
Jack Alden Walcott’s story is a poignant reminder of how life can change in an instant. His disappearance is a puzzle without a solution, a mystery that endures as a part of Jackson County’s history. For those who knew him, it’s a story that demands resolution, a call for justice that echoes across the years.

If you know anything—no matter how small—about what happened to Jack Walcott, contact the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office. Perhaps, with the help of modern tools and a persistent community, Jack’s story can finally reach its conclusion.