298 Cases Solved. Advancing justice for missing persons, unsolved homicides, unidentified and unclaimed remains.

Gary Barfield Missing Person Case

Last seen in Hamilton, Ohio on May 12, 2016

Victim Details

Created

May 22, 2016

Case Added

Jan 12, 2024

First Name

Gary

Last Name

Barfield

Current Age

Age At Disappearance

Height

74 inches

Height To

75 inches

Weight

280 lbs

Weight To

300 lbs

Ethnicity

White / Caucasian

Gender

Male

Last Seen

May 12, 2016

City

Hamilton

State

Ohio

County

Butler County

Zip Code

45011

Agency ID

18366

Agency Name

Hamilton Police Department

Agency City

Hamilton

Agency State

Ohio

Agency County

Butler County

Agency Zip Code

45011

Agency Contact

James Gross

Contact Job Title

Detective

Agency Address

331 South Front Street, Ohio

Agency Phone

5138685811

Agency Jurisdiction

Local

Agency Type

Law Enforcement

Agency Case #

16-080353

Agency Report Date

May 15, 2016

Primary Agency

Hamilton Police Department

Hair Color

Brown

Left Eye Color

Brown

Right Eye Color

Brown

Solved

Last Updated

Oct 8, 2026

Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!

Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP33804) and 4 other sources

In the spring of 2016, the life of 29-year-old Gary 'Chad' Barfield took a turn that left his family and friends searching for answers. On May 12, 2016, Gary was last seen in his hometown of Hamilton, Ohio. At the time, he was an employee at a Burger King restaurant in nearby Liberty Township. His disappearance was preceded by an unusual act; he left a note at his workplace indicating that he was quitting his job. This, coupled with the discovery that he had left all of his personal belongings at home, painted a concerning picture for those who knew him. His phone, wallet, identification, credit cards, and laptop computer were all left behind, items that are typically essential for anyone planning a trip or a new start elsewhere.

The mystery deepened when Gary's vehicle, a red 1997 Pontiac Sunfire, was found abandoned. The car was located unoccupied along the southbound lanes of Interstate 75 at mile marker 23 in Kentucky, not far from the Tennessee border. This discovery, so far from his Ohio home, only added to the growing list of questions surrounding his sudden disappearance. The car was subsequently impounded by local authorities. For a man who was described by his family as being in regular contact with them, this sudden silence was entirely out of character. They noted that he was not involved with drugs and did not drink alcohol, and they were unaware of any significant problems in his life that would prompt such a departure. It has been suggested that he may have been feeling depressed around the time he went missing.

Gary is described as a white male with brown hair and brown eyes, standing between 6'2' and 6'3' tall and weighing between 280 and 300 pounds. He has two distinctive dragon tattoos on his right arm; one is located on his upper arm, and the other is on the inside of his lower arm. When he was last seen, he was believed to be wearing an orange shirt and brown shorts. His stepsister mentioned that he enjoyed making friends online using his laptop, a detail that offers a small glimpse into his life before he vanished. The circumstances of Gary Barfield's case are perplexing, marked by a deliberate departure from his daily life without a clear explanation. The discovery of his abandoned car in another state, combined with the personal items he left behind, creates a narrative with no clear resolution, leaving his loved ones to wonder what happened to him after he was last seen.
Last Seen: May 12, 2016

Links to Additional Sources (4)

See any mistakes? Let us know!

Hamilton man's 2016 disappearance remains a mystery to family ...

Gary Chadwick Acord Barfield - The Charley Project

5 area missing persons cases that continue to be mysteries

Missing Gary Chad Barfield from Hamilton

Possible Unidentified Matches (1)

Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

75%Possible

John Doe — Enon, Ohio

UP157410 • Found Sep 29, 2025

View case

Sex ✓Male

Age 100%Est. 28–42 vs 29 when missing

Race 100%White

Location 91%44 mi away, same state

TimingFound 9 years after last seen

Height 75%5'5"–6'1" vs 6'2"–6'3"

These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.