These are the last known photos of Michael Rockefeller, the 23-year-old son of former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, pictured with a New Guinean tribe known for cannibalism. Michael disappeared without a trace during his 1961 New Guinean expedition and his body was never found.
On November 17, 1961, Rockefeller and Dutch anthropologist René Wassing were in a 40-foot (12 m) dugout canoe about 3 nautical miles (6 km; 3 mi) from shore when their double pontoon boat was swamped and overturned. Their two local guides swam for help, but it was slow in coming. After drifting for some time, early on November 19, Rockefeller said to Wassing: “I think I can make it.” He then swam for shore. The boat was an estimated 12 nmi (22 km; 14 mi) from the shore when Rockefeller made the attempt to swim to safety, supporting the theory that he died from exposure, exhaustion or drowning.
Wassing was rescued the next day, but Rockefeller was never seen again despite an intensive and lengthy search effort. At the time, his disappearance was major international news. His body was never found, and he was declared legally dead in 1964.
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| Rockefeller, in a canoe with a native during his anthropological exploration in Dutch New Guinea. |
It was originally reported that Rockefeller either drowned or was attacked by an animal, such as a shark or saltwater crocodile. However, because headhunting and cannibalism were still present in some areas of Asmat in 1961, and still are, there has also been speculation that Rockefeller may have been killed and eaten by tribespeople from the Asmat village of Otsjanep.
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