Joseph Brandon Benton, 18, was last heard from on January 6, 2004, when he contacted his family around 5:00 p.m. in Lufkin, Texas. Joseph, often referred to as "Smokey Joe," was driving his brown and tan 1987 Ford F-150 extended cab truck, which was later found abandoned near Zavalla, Texas, behind a locked cattle gate on a rural dirt road. Despite extensive searches, Joseph has never been seen or heard from again, and his disappearance remains unsolved.
Joseph's physical description includes black hair, hazel eyes, and several distinguishing tattoos, including the words "Love" and "Hate" on his knuckles, a mushroom on his left calf, and "Smokey Joe" on his forearm. He also had a pierced left ear and was missing several teeth. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance suggest the possibility of foul play, but no significant leads have surfaced since his truck was discovered.
The Tyler County Sheriff's Department continues to investigate, and Joseph's case is classified as endangered, with hopes that new information may one day emerge to solve this mysterious disappearance.Last Seen: Jan 6, 2004
