Justin Wayne Coursey, a 35-year-old resident of McCracken County, Kentucky, was last seen on December 21st or 22nd, 2023. He was seen by a gas station attendant in Salem, Kentucky, and his last known location was in the Reidland area. At the time of his disappearance, he was driving his grandmother's gray 2015 Jeep Compass. Concern for his welfare grew when he could not be contacted and his bank account and phone records showed no activity after his disappearance.
The McCracken County Sheriff's Office in Kentucky initiated a missing person investigation, appealing to the public for any information regarding his whereabouts.
A significant development in the case came in mid-January 2024, when the Jeep Compass that Justin had been driving was discovered abandoned in a remote national forest area in Duchesne County, Utah, approximately 11 miles from a paved road. This discovery shifted the focus of the search to a rugged and expansive area over 1,400 miles from where he was last seen. The Duchesne County Sheriff's Office alerted residents in the surrounding communities of Altamont, Bluebell, and Mountain Home to be on the lookout for him. Multiple search and rescue operations were launched in the challenging terrain where the vehicle was found, but these initial efforts did not locate Justin.
The search for Justin Coursey continued for many months, spanning two states and involving the coordinated efforts of law enforcement agencies and search teams. Regrettably, on October 7, 2025, it was reported that his remains had been found and positively identified. Further details regarding the circumstances of his death have not been publicly released. The case began as a local missing person report in Kentucky and evolved into a multi-state investigation after his vehicle was found abandoned in Utah, highlighting the collaborative efforts of law enforcement and the community in the search for a missing individual.Last Seen: Dec 21, 2023
