In the quiet Murrayville area of New Hanover County, just a stone's throw north of Wilmington, North Carolina, the day of March 9, 2013, began like any other for 40-year-old David Bryant Cottle Jr. He was at his residence on Cotswald Court, and a family member last saw him there around noon. By 6:00 p.m. that evening, when his family returned home, David was gone. The only items that appeared to be missing from his room were a light tan, hardbound journal and a gray and green backpack.
At the time of his disappearance, David was described as a white male, approximately 5'10' tall and weighing around 190 pounds. He had long, reddish-brown hair, blue eyes, and a distinctive tribal band tattoo on his right bicep. He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt with a graphic on the front, blue jeans, a blue jacket, a knit toboggan, and flip-flops.
The years leading up to David's disappearance had been fraught with personal challenges. An injury had led to an addiction to painkillers, which had a cascading effect on his life, resulting in the loss of his job and his marriage. In the wake of these difficulties, he had moved in with his aunt. His sister recalled a conversation with him shortly before he went missing, during which he was very distraught and emotional. David was known to enjoy walking in the woods near his home, and an extensive search of that area was conducted, but it yielded no clues as to his whereabouts. He did not have a cell phone at the time he vanished, and there has been no activity on his bank accounts since.
Despite the passage of time, the case of David Bryant Cottle Jr. remains open, a lingering question in the hearts of his family and the community. Investigators received a couple of tips in the initial stages of the investigation, including a possible sighting of David near railroad tracks in Wallace, North Carolina, and another tip that led them to an address in Pender County. However, neither of these leads could be substantiated, and no new information has since come to light. The disappearance is considered unusual, as he did not leave a note or indicate to anyone that he was planning to leave. The absence of any concrete evidence or leads has left his family grappling with a painful uncertainty. The overview of the case is one of a man facing personal turmoil who seemingly vanished without a trace, leaving behind a family searching for answers.Last Seen: Mar 9, 2013
