On a cold January morning in 2016, sixty-year-old Jay Kevin Shumate and his mother drove to a local pharmacy in their hometown of Erie, Kansas. The date was January 17th, and at approximately 10:00 a.m., in the vicinity of Main and State Streets, Jay parked their truck. He then got out of the vehicle, told his mother he was going to a "sports thing" and that he didn't want her to come along, and walked away. His mother, unable to drive, remained in the truck for several hours, waiting for a son who would never return. Concern grew as the hours passed, and eventually, a welfare check by the Erie Police Department led to the officer taking Jay's mother home. Jay had vanished, leaving behind essential personal items, including his wallet, eyeglasses, phone, and cigarettes, suggesting his departure was not planned.
The days following Jay's disappearance were filled with urgent activity as law enforcement and the community mobilized. It was noted that Jay was known to frequently walk along U.S. 59 or Main Street, heading south from Erie toward the Neosho River. On January 22, 2016, a large-scale search was launched, focusing on the snow-covered land between the town and the river. Community volunteers joined law enforcement and volunteer firefighters, combing the area on foot, on ATVs, on horseback, and with the aid of aircraft. Despite these extensive efforts, the search was unsuccessful. A couple of potential sightings were reported, including one of a man resembling Jay hitchhiking near Pittsburg, but these leads did not result in locating him. As months turned into years, the case grew cold, leaving his family and community with unanswered questions and the lingering pain of his absence. Jay was described as a Native American male with graying brown hair and brown eyes, and he had several distinctive tattoos and scars from past surgeries.
For years, the case remained stagnant until a significant discovery brought a painful resolution. In February 2023, individuals searching for deer antler sheds in an area along the Neosho River prone to flooding stumbled upon a human skull. Investigators collected the skull and conducted another search of the area, but no additional remains or clothing were found. The skull was sent to Washburn University's Forensic Anthropology lab, where it was estimated to be that of a male. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation was called in to assist, and familial DNA samples were collected from a member of Shumate's family. These samples were sent to a lab in Texas for analysis. On August 25, 2025, it was confirmed through DNA analysis that the skull belonged to Jay Shumate. While this discovery officially ended the search for the missing man, it opened a new chapter of uncertainty, as his cause of death remains unknown. The overview of this case is a sad journey from a routine morning to a sudden disappearance, followed by a lengthy period of searching and waiting, and concluding with a partial and somber discovery that confirmed his passing without revealing the circumstances of his death.
Last Seen: Jan 17, 2016
