On the morning of September 15, 1999, 30-year-old James Dale Yarbrough, who went by his middle name Dale, was at his parents' 200-acre farm near Palmyra, Missouri. He was seen inside the house that morning, wearing a yellow Congo t-shirt, blue jeans, and hiking boots. After briefly speaking with his mother, he seemingly vanished. His family became concerned when they realized by noon that he was gone, having left all of his personal belongings behind, including his wallet and keys.
Compounding the mystery was the fact that all of his vehicles remained parked at the farm.
The initial investigation into Dale's disappearance faced some criticism. It wasn't until a new sheriff was elected in Marion County in January 2000 that Yarbrough's father requested the case be looked into again. The previous sheriff had suggested that Dale may have left on his own to start a new life, a theory for which there was no evidence. The new administration followed up on several reported sightings of Dale in Missouri, Texas, and Tennessee, but none of these leads proved to be credible. A thorough search of the family's expansive and rugged property, which included a wooded area near the Fabius River that Dale was known to frequent, was not conducted until June 2002, nearly three years after he went missing. This extensive search unfortunately yielded no clues as to what happened to him.
The circumstances surrounding Dale's disappearance remain an unsolved mystery. Investigators have explored various angles, including the possibility of an accident on the family's farm, but have found no evidence to support this. There were also rumors that Dale had visited a local man, Jim Gibson, prior to his disappearance. Gibson was later convicted of child molestation, but after interviewing him in prison, authorities did not believe he was involved in Dale's case. Dale worked for several asphalt paving companies in the Hannibal area, as well as in Iowa and Illinois. It has been suggested that he may have come into conflict with individuals through his work. His bank account and Social Security number have remained untouched since the day he vanished. Despite the passage of time, law enforcement and his family continue to hope that someone with information will come forward to provide answers and bring closure to this long-standing case.Last Seen: Sep 15, 1999
