On a summer day in Vernal, Utah, July 8, 2022, Marty Carruth Justice, a 51-year-old man, said goodbye to his ailing father. He was living with his dad, who was battling cancer, and before leaving for his job at the Deep Creek ranches in Uintah County, he expressed his love and promised to return that evening. This was the last time any family member would see him. At the time of his disappearance, Marty was on probation and required to wear an ankle monitor.
This electronic tether would soon become a central clue in the mystery of his vanishing. Law enforcement was able to trace the monitor's signal to a road in the remote Deep Creek area, where it abruptly stopped transmitting. Since that day, there has been a complete and uncharacteristic silence from Marty; no calls, no contact, nothing to assure his loved ones of his well-being.
The cessation of the ankle monitor's signal triggered an immediate and extensive search of the rugged terrain where he was last tracked. The Uintah County Sheriff's Office, along with search and rescue teams, deployed significant resources, combing the area with canines, helicopters, and airplanes, but found no trace of Marty. His vehicle was discovered the following day, but perplexingly, none of his personal items were found with it. The investigation uncovered a conflicting piece of information; according to the sheriff's office, Marty had sent a text message to his girlfriend on the day he disappeared, stating his intention to cut off the ankle monitor and that he would never be found by law enforcement. This created a complex picture of a man who, on one hand, was a devoted son and, on the other, might have been planning to disappear.
The years that have followed have been filled with anguish and uncertainty for Marty's family. His father passed away in November 2022, just months after his son went missing, without ever knowing what happened. His children and sister continue to hope for answers, struggling with the void his absence has created. His son described him as a loving father and best friend who would not have willingly abandoned his children and his beloved granddaughters. The Uintah County Sheriff's Office considers the case to be an active and ongoing investigation, having dedicated thousands of hours and followed up on every lead. Despite extensive searches that have continued years after his disappearance, and the analysis of phone records that only confirmed his general location, no new evidence has emerged to explain what happened to Marty Justice in the Deep Creek area. The case remains a painful mystery, a story of a family left in limbo, holding onto the memory of a man who vanished, leaving behind only questions and a lingering sense of loss.Last Seen: Jul 8, 2022
