Missing Person Alert

Circumstances

Date of Disappearance

May 20, 1956

Notes

In 1956, American Peter Winant and his Swedish fiancée Gunnel Gummeson were traveling across northern Afghanistan near the Russian border. Gunnel was an experienced traveler (she was returning from a volunteer trip in India) and Peter have been to Afghanistan previously. Gunnel mailed a letter to her family on May 20, letting them know her expected travel path and a few days later she and Peter arrived in Shibarghan. Witnesses claimed to see the two leaving with another passenger who had rentals. Several years later in 1963, a local Pashtun informant notified a priest that he had gained information about Gunnel and Peter during his time in the military. According to the informant, Peter was killed but Gunnel was still alive. She had been taken hostage by a wealthy clan in Qaisar, Kala Khan where she had been married and birthed a son. The informant later agreed to go undercover in the area and reportedly saw a young boy with blonde hair and European characteristics. He was not able to meet the child’s mother and later investigations failed to uncover Gunnel. Two travelers in 1967 also claimed to have seen a similar boy, but there is no evidence that he was related to Gunnel.

Location of the Disappearance or Crime Scene

Potential Circumstances

Long-Distance Trip, Married or Dating Couple, Multiple Victims, Terrorist Organization or Attack, Traveling Abroad, With Others, Seen with Strangers

Vehicle

License Plate

Photo of Vehicle

Suspect

Suspect Description

Photo of Suspect