Cody Matney Missing Person Case

Dec 12, 2008

Jan 08, 2024

Cody

Matney

46

24

68 inches

170 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

In the spring of 2002, a 24-year-old man named Cody Scott Matney disappeared from Bristol, Tennessee, leaving behind a life and a family who would search for answers for decades. On the evening of April 28th, Cody, a weightlifting enthusiast with distinctive tattoos of the "Incredible Hulk" on his right arm and "Batman/Gotham City" on his left, was at Confetti's Sports Bar on West State Street. He was last seen wearing a navy blue long-sleeved shirt, blue jeans, and a blue University of Florida Gators hat. Witnesses reported seeing Cody use a payphone at the bar before he went outside to his 1991 Ford Ranger. He was then seen talking with an unidentified person in another truck in the parking lot. After that conversation, Cody Matney was never seen or heard from again. The days following his disappearance turned into a harrowing wait for his loved ones. Five days later, a discovery was made in the very spot he was last seen: his Ford Ranger truck was found abandoned in the parking lot of Confetti's Sports Bar. Inside the vehicle, his checkbook was left on the dashboard, an eerie detail in a scene that offered few clues. Investigators found no signs of a struggle and no immediate indication of what could have happened. As they delved into his life, they found that his bank account had gone untouched, and calls made from his calling card around that time led to dead ends. For years, the case grew cold, leaving his family with unanswered questions and the persistent pain of not knowing the fate of their son, brother, and friend. His sister's words echoed the family's sentiment that a strong young man like Cody wouldn't just vanish without a reason. For more than two decades, the mystery of Cody Matney's disappearance remained unsolved. Then, in 2024, a break in the case emerged when investigators received new information. This new lead reignited the investigation, bringing together the Bristol Police Department, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, and the Virginia State Police. The renewed effort led authorities to Christopher James Havrilla, who was arrested in Alabama in March 2025. A Sullivan County Grand Jury indicted Havrilla, accusing him of kidnapping and murdering Cody, and then disposing of his body. Later, Havrilla faced additional charges, including especially aggravated kidnapping, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and making a false report. While an arrest has been made, Cody's remains have not yet been found, and authorities believe others in the Bristol, Tennessee, and Virginia areas may still hold information about the case. The case, once a cold mystery, has now moved into a new phase, offering the possibility of long-awaited answers and a measure of justice for Cody Matney.

Apr 28, 2002

Bristol

Tennessee

Sullivan County

No

19431

Bristol Police Department

Bristol

Tennessee

Sullivan County

37620

Blaine Wade

Chief of Police

801 Anderson Street, Tennessee

4239895600

Local

Law Enforcement

https://www.bristoltn.org/200/Police-Department

I0205786

Bristol Police Department

5268

Brown

Blue

Blue

07/02/2026