In June 1988, 23-year-old Philip Fraser headed out on a road trip to Washington State. He had just enrolled in a college in Olympia and was excited to start a new chapter of his life. Unfortunately, his life was cut short after picking up a hitchhiker.
Philip Fraser was born on January 3, 1965, in Anchorage, Alaska. His parents were both doctors. He dreamed of following in their footsteps and becoming a doctor himself. So, he enrolled in the pre-med program at Western Maryland College, his father’s alma mater.
After a year of attending college, he returned to Alaska for a short time. Then, he enrolled at Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, to continue pursuing his medical career.
On June 14, 1988, he packed up all his belongings and drove his 1983 black Volkswagen Jetta out to Washington. Early into the journey, he began to experience car trouble.
On June 17, he finally crossed the border into Canada, where his two handguns were confiscated because it was illegal for Americans to bring firearms into Canada. On June 18, Philip picked up a hitchhiker in the parking lot of the 40 Mile Flat Café.
The café was owned by Gaye Frocklage and her daughter, Tina. They immediately sensed something was off about the man when he showed up at the café.
He was in his early to mid-twenties, five feet and nine inches tall, and approximately 230 pounds. He gave off a very strong odor. Gaye and Tina feared that he might have escaped from a mental institution.
After he paid for his meal, he left the café, just as Philip pulled up in the parking lot. The man walked up to his car and asked for a ride.
At first, Philip refused and started to drive away, but the hitchhiker ran after him. In the end, Philip stopped and let the hitchhiker get in the car. It was the last time Philip was seen alive.
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Eight hours later, the hitchhiker flagged down a couple about 200 miles away from the café. He claimed to be having car trouble and seemed nervous.
Eddie and Pauline Olson were not suspicious of him. They gave him a ride and even allowed him to stay the night in their basement.
The next morning, the hitchhiker introduced himself as Philip Fraser. He told the Olsons that he was from Alaska, his parents were both doctors, and that he was studying medicine at a college in Washington.
He then tried to sell his car to them in exchange for a plane ticket. Eddie agreed, but told him it would have to wait until Monday. The man said he needed to leave immediately. He pulled out two wallets and gave them $20 before going out to repair his car.
On June 19, just 12 hours after the hitchhiker left the Olsons’ house, Philip’s car was found at a car wash in Prince George, British Columbia. There was severe fire damage to the car, and none of his belongings were inside. The police suspected foul play.
Once they figured out that the car belonged to Philip, they traced his address back to his parents’ home and broke the news to his parents. Police searched for Philip for weeks without success.
Finally, his body was found on July 27, 1988, in a gravel pit near Stewart, British Columbia. He had been shot to death with a handgun. The café owners, Gaye and Tina, and the Olsons, came forward to share what they knew.
Authorities think that the hitchhiker had murdered Philip and assumed his identity. He may have pretended to be Philip for some time. Philip’s credit cards, passport, and birth certificate have never been found.
Philip’s case is still open and unsolved. The identity of the hitchhiker has not yet been discovered.
By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
