On December 23, 1998, the day before Christmas Eve, 26-year-old Jeremy Wayne Goodwin disappeared from Texarkana, Arkansas. He had been a patient at Wadley Regional Medical Center for abdominal discomfort, and after receiving a painkiller injection, he called his mother for a ride back to his trailer in the Liberty/Eylau area of Texas. Shortly after, he called again to say he would take a taxi instead. Authorities believe he got a ride to the Ritz Motel on eastbound U.S. Highway 67.
At approximately 11:00 p.m., he called his mother from the motel, but she was unable to answer. That was the last time anyone is known to have heard from him. His loved ones have stated that it was out of character for him to leave without notice, especially since he had custody of his son every weekend and looked forward to their time together.
At the time of his disappearance, Jeremy was described as a white male, 6 feet tall, and weighing 225 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes. He had several distinguishing marks, including a circular scar on his left elbow and scars on his nose, left ring finger, and lower lip. He may have had a mustache, beard, or goatee. He also had a missing right chest muscle with no hair growth on that side of his chest. He was last seen wearing a Dallas Cowboys T-shirt and either jeans or gray jogging pants. Jeremy faced several health challenges, including Crohn's Disease, high blood pressure, seizures, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. He had also been in recovery for a painkiller addiction and was released from a treatment program just four months before he vanished.
The circumstances surrounding Jeremy's disappearance remain a mystery, and foul play has not been ruled out. A tip was received by his family suggesting he may have been placed in a psychiatric facility called Living Hope Hospital of Texarkana shortly after he went missing, and then possibly transferred to a state-operated facility. However, this information has never been confirmed, and the hospital has since closed. The case is complicated by Jeremy's personal struggles, including a prior arrest. An overview of the case suggests a young father battling significant health and personal issues who vanished unexpectedly. Despite the passage of time, his family remains hopeful for answers. The Texarkana Police Department continues to list the case as open, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact them.Last Seen: Dec 23, 1998
