The Mysterious Disappearance of Josh Guimond: A Minnesota College Student Who Vanished After a Poker Night

On November 9, 2002, 20-year-old Josh Guimond left a poker party at St. John’s University in Minnesota and began a three-minute walk back to his dorm. He was never seen again. Despite decades of searches, interviews, and investigations, his case remains unsolved.

This article dives into the chilling details of his disappearance, the theories surrounding it, and why this mystery continues to haunt Minnesota.

Who Was Josh Guimond?

Joshua Cheney Guimond was born on June 18, 1982, in Red Wood Falls, Minnesota. Raised in Maple Lake, he excelled academically and was voted “Most Likely to Succeed” in high school. Friends and teachers described him as ambitious, kind, and driven. He dreamed of attending Yale Law School and entering politics, even joking about becoming president one day.

In 2000, Josh enrolled at St. John’s University, a small Catholic college in Collegeville, Minnesota. He joined the mock trial team, became a leader in the pre-law society, and lived in an on-campus dorm called St. Maur House with five roommates. By November 2002, he was a junior with a bright future ahead—until one night changed everything.

The Night Josh Vanished

On November 9, 2002, Josh attended a poker party at the Metten Court dormitory, just a short walk from his own dorm. Here’s what investigators know:

• 11:06 PM: Josh used his key card to enter his dorm, then left for the party.
• 11:45 PM: He left the party without saying goodbye. Witnesses later reported seeing someone who looked like Josh crossing a bridge near Stumpf Lake around midnight.
• Key Details: Josh wasn’t carrying his wallet, keys, or glasses. He wore a gray St. John’s sweatshirt and jeans.

When Josh didn’t show up for a mock trial meeting the next day, friends grew worried. His roommate, Nick Hydukovich, confirmed Josh never returned to their dorm. Campus security found Josh’s car untouched, his TV still on, and his AOL Instant Messenger inactive for 12 hours. By nightfall, his parents were notified—24 hours after he’d last been seen.

The Search for Answers

Authorities launched one of Minnesota’s largest searches. The National Guard, volunteers, and dive teams scoured Stumpf Lake and nearby woods. Bloodhounds tracked his scent to a bridge over the lake, leading some to theorize he fell in. However, no body or evidence was found in the water.

Early Theories

• Accidental Drowning: Could Josh, possibly intoxicated, have slipped into the lake? Searches found nothing.
• Suicide: Friends insisted Josh showed no signs of depression, despite a recent breakup with his girlfriend, Katie Benson.
• Conflict With His Roommate: Rumors swirled that Josh and Nick Hydukovich had argued over Katie. Hydukovich’s timeline that night had inconsistencies, and he refused a polygraph test.

Dark Secrets: Online Activity and Campus Scandals

In 2008, recovered data from Josh’s computer revealed shocking details:

• He’d created fake IDs and multiple Yahoo! Personals profiles, some posing as a woman.
• He’d chatted with 28 men online, sparking theories he was exploring his sexuality or arranging a secret meetup.

In 2022, police released images of the men he’d contacted, hoping for leads. One man, driving an orange Pontiac Sunfire, was seen on campus that night but denied involvement—and later destroyed his car before police could search it.

The Abbey Connection

St. John’s Abbey, a monastery on campus, became a focus when bloodhounds traced Josh’s scent there. The abbey had a history of sex abuse scandals:

• In 2016, 18 monks were named as abusers.
• Josh was reportedly researching these scandals before vanishing.

Staff initially blocked searches of the abbey, fueling theories of a cover-up. However, no evidence linked the abbey to his disappearance.

Unanswered Questions and Theories

• Online Predator: Did someone Josh met online lure him into danger?
• Campus Cover-Up: Could staff or students have silenced him over his abuse research?
• Foul Play: Was his disappearance tied to the fight with his roommate or other conflicts?

Notably, another Minnesota student, Chris Jenkins, vanished weeks earlier. His body was later found in the Mississippi River, ruled a homicide. Some wonder if the cases are connected.

The Fight for Answers

Josh’s family has tirelessly pushed for answers. In 2021, his father sued Stearns County for case files but lost. The 2022 Unsolved Mysteries Netflix episode renewed public interest, yet progress remains stalled.

Key Figures

• Nick Hydukovich: Josh’s roommate, whose timeline that night has gaps.
• Katie Benson: Josh’s ex-girlfriend, who was with Hydukovich the night Josh vanished.
• The Orange Pontiac Driver: A mysterious figure never ruled out as a suspect.

A Mystery That Endures

Josh Guimond’s case is a haunting blend of missed clues, hidden secrets, and dead ends. Was he a victim of a campus conspiracy, an online predator, or a tragic accident? Without a body or conclusive evidence, the truth remains elusive. His family continues to hope for closure, while the public grapples with a chilling question: How does someone vanish without a trace?

FAQ

Was Josh Guimond ever found?

No. Despite extensive searches, no trace of Josh has been discovered.

What were the main theories about his disappearance?

Theories include drowning, foul play, online predators, and a campus cover-up related to abuse scandals.

Did Josh have conflicts with anyone before vanishing?

Reports suggest he argued with his roommate, Nick Hydukovich, over his ex-girlfriend.

Why was St. John’s Abbey investigated?

Bloodhounds tracked Josh’s scent there, and the abbey had a history of sexual abuse by monks.

How did Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries impact the case?

The 2022 episode revived public interest but did not lead to new breakthroughs.