By Kathi Bliss
Editor/POST-REGISTER

Friday marked the 15th anniversary since the disappearance of 9-year-old Chance Lee Wackerhagen.

The boy was in the Lockhart area spending Christmas with his father, then 40-year-old Lee Herman Wackerhagen, Jr. He called his mother on Christmas Eve, asking to spend more time with his father, and has not been seen since, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The elder Wackerhagen was the child’s non-custodial parent, and has also not been seen since Dec. 26, 1993. The pair vanished shortly before the body of Lee’s girlfriend, 38-year-old Latricia White, was found in her home near McMahan. The mother of two had been shot in the head six times, and Wackerhagen is the primary suspect in the murder.

Gaye Williams, the child’s mother, divorced Wackerhagen in 1990, and said that when she last spoke to her son, he sounded happy and excited about his Christmas presents. Although he agreed to call her at a later time to set up his return to her home in Kingsville, she said she never heard from him again.

Williams told authorities she does not believe Wackerhagen would hurt the child.

Three days after the pair vanished, authorities located Wackerhagen’s Ford pickup abandoned in East Austin, with his wallet, checkbook, and a hunting rifle that had not been fired inside. A number of Christmas gifts, some unopened and all streaked with blood, were also found in the truck. Tests revealed that the blood, originally though to be White’s, did not match her blood type.

The elder Wackerhagen’s family maintains he neither killed White nor abducted his son, and believes the pair met with foul play. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, however, has issued warrants for Wackerhagen’s arrest for murder, unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, and interference with child custody.

At the time of his disappearance, Chance had blond hair and blue eyes, and a small dimple in his right cheek.His date of birth was Sept. 2, 1984, and he would be 24 years old today. His father was born on Sept. 19, 1953, and would be 55 now. He is between 6’0” and 6’4”, and has dark blond hair and blue eyes. At the time of his disappearance, he wore a moustache and glasses. He is known to use the aliases “Dub” and “Doug,” and may be using the last name “Walker.” He is considered by the FBI to be armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about the Wackerhagens’ whereabouts is encouraged to contact the FBI at (202) 324-3000, or the Texas Department of Public Safety at (800) 346-3243.
kathibliss@post-register.com