On August 31, 1986, 53-year-old A. W. Steed was last seen in Sulphur Springs, Texas, under circumstances that have led investigators to suspect foul play. His disappearance occurred over Labor Day weekend, a time he was supposed to be enjoying with his family on a camping trip at his parents' cabin on Lake Fork in Alba, Texas. The day before he went missing, Steed had been setting up a camper trailer, fishing, and spending time with his loved ones in preparation for the weekend getaway.
The narrative of Steed's last known hours comes primarily from his second wife, Carolyn. She contacted Steed's ex-wife, Magdalene, with whom he remained on friendly terms, on the night of August 30th to inform her that she and A.W. would be staying at their Sulphur Springs home that night instead of joining the rest of the family at the lake. Carolyn claimed they would travel to the lake the following morning. According to Carolyn's account, she and A.W. went to a local Veterans of Foreign Wars post that evening and returned to their residence on Woodcrest Drive after midnight. She stated that an argument ensued because their dog had soiled the bed. Carolyn reported that A.W. wanted to go out gambling, but she wished to go to sleep. Subsequently, A.W. allegedly walked away from their home around 1:00 a.m., leaving behind all three of his trucks, and was never seen again. Carolyn contacted both Magdalene and the police between 7:00 and 8:00 a.m. that morning.
Concerns for Steed's welfare grew when he failed to show up for work on the Tuesday following the long weekend. At the time of his disappearance, he co-owned Steed’s Tractor and Equipment, a tractor supply store in Emory, Texas, with his son, Gary. After Carolyn went to the business inquiring about her husband's whereabouts, Gary went to his father's house. There, he discovered that the carpet had been recently shampooed and was still damp, there were wet sheets, and oil had been poured on the carport floor.
Further investigations into Steed's life revealed significant personal and financial turmoil. Shortly before his disappearance, Steed had confided in his ex-wife, Magdalene, that he was in more debt than ever before. He disclosed that Carolyn had accumulated a substantial gambling debt and that someone had forged his signature on a $9,500 check, causing his bank account to be overdrawn. Steed was also troubled by Carolyn's handling of their finances and had sought advice on how to remove her from their joint checking accounts and credit cards. Additionally, he had recently discovered Carolyn with another man but was reportedly trying to salvage their marriage. Foul play is suspected in Steed's case, and he was legally declared dead in 1994. At the time he went missing, he was described as a 5'8" white male with brown hair and hazel eyes, weighing 140 pounds. He wore a full set of dentures and was last seen in a western-style shirt, blue jeans, a silver dollar belt buckle with his "AW" initials, Red Wing work boots, and a Jules Jorgensen wristwatch.Last Seen: Aug 31, 1986
