Jesse Conger

*This article includes content which may be disturbing to some readers, such as details of suicide. Discretion is advised.*

## Jesse Conger

### Classification

Suspected suicide

**Jesse Franklin Conger** was a man who left his apartment in Scottsdale, Arizona, on August 14, 2019, and has not been heard from since. It is believed mental health problems from his military service contributed to his disappearance.

## Early Life

Jesse Conger served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps and did three tours overseas. He had a 290 PFT score and was an expert rifleman per military standards.

While serving in Al-Assad, Iraq, he was the assistant operations chief for Marine Aircraft Group 16 (MAG-16). He was responsible for supporting every Marine Air asset and two Army air assets, coordinating flights, and moving packs and cargo. He oversaw 40,700 flight hours, 65,300 transported passengers, and nine million pounds of freight moved. He was also the sergeant of the guard of the MAG Quick Reaction Force and the barrack sergeant due to his strong leadership and communication skills. While in Iraq, he was subject to indirect fire attacks and participated in staff support roles between July 2008 and February 2009. His performance, described as "exceptional," was noted as significant to the success of MAG-16 during combat operations.

Conger served as an ASR/AR coordinator in Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan, deconflicting flight windows for tactical air requests as the NCOIC of future operations.

Conger volunteered to become a rescue swimmer and completed aircrew school and the demanding United States Navy rescue swimmer school for the position. He endured several more months of intense training, which included open ocean deployments in rough seas, often at night, and being hoisted from small boats. He accumulated over eight hundred and seventy-five flight hours as a rescue swimmer, flew forty separate search and rescue missions, and directly saved twenty-five lives. He soon became a NATOPS Instructor who taught rescue swimmer crews techniques for high-angle high sea state rescues.

After his service, Conger founded a non-profit organization called Combat Cookks, which taught wounded soldiers how to surf. Although known to be highly social and great at telling jokes, Conger had PTSD and severe depression stemming from his military service. In the days before his disappearance, he made several suicidal statements.

## Disappearance

On the morning of August 14, 2019, Conger left his apartment, driving his 2015 silver Toyota Camry 4DSD that bore Nevada License Plate 696G03. He had left his wallet, identification, service dog, and phone. His girlfriend Natalie Harwell reported him missing the next day. At the time of his disappearance, his family believed he was heading to Lee's Ferry or Mexico. Twitter philanthropist Bill Pulte offered a $30,000 award for information on Conger's whereabouts.

Five months later, Conger's vehicle was located in San Carlos, Arizona, about a hundred miles east of Phoenix, Arizona. According to his twin sister, Patricia, his vehicle's key was in ignition and had hunting and fishing gear inside. However, his 9mm pistol was missing.

## Characteristics

* Brown hair.
* Fully grown brown beard.
* Blue eyes.
* Tattoos on his left arm.
* Tattoo of the vertical word "RISE" and a human heart on his left chest.

## Sources

* Jesse Conger at *NamUs*
* Find Jesse Missing Veteran
* *Fox News*
* *ABC 15:*
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