In June 2003, 82-year-old John Yates, a resident of Hot Springs, Arkansas, embarked on a fishing trip to Yell County, a place he knew well from his childhood and frequented for hunting and fishing. On the morning of June 16th, he stopped at a convenience store in Hollis between 8:00 and 8:30 a.m., mentioning his plan to head towards Onyx to fish. He was also seen in Story and at another convenience store in Rover before proceeding to his fishing spot near Onyx.
This was the last time anyone reported seeing him.
The following day, authorities discovered Mr. Yates's maroon Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck abandoned on County Road #130, just off State Highway 314 in Onyx. The truck was found parked near a stream in a location he was very familiar with and often fished at. It was his usual practice to park his vehicle and then proceed on foot to the creek and river to fish. The truck was locked, and inside, the only item of note found was a gun he kept behind the seat. There were no indications of a struggle or any foul play near the vehicle.
Despite extensive and exhaustive searches of the area, no clues to Mr. Yates's whereabouts were ever found. Search efforts involved the Game and Fish Commission, mounted patrols, search dogs, and police helicopters, but turned up nothing. There has been no financial activity on his accounts since the day he disappeared, and while there were no immediate signs of a crime, authorities have not ruled out the possibility of foul play. The case of John Yates remains unsolved, a lingering mystery for his family and the Yell County community.Last Seen: Jun 17, 2003
