In the early morning hours of March 25, 2021, 35-year-old Brandon Carl Wayne Macdonald left his home in Clarkton, North Carolina. He spoke with his father around 7:10 a.m. and told him he would be home within the hour, but he never arrived. Brandon was not seen or heard from again. The circumstances following this last communication with his father became increasingly concerning. His black 2003 Ford F-150 pickup truck was discovered later that day, wrecked and abandoned in Hope Mills, North Carolina, a location roughly 40 miles from where his phone had last pinged in Laurinburg. This discovery marked the beginning of a years-long search for answers by his family and law enforcement.
The investigation into Brandon's disappearance involved multiple law enforcement agencies, including the Bladen County Sheriff's Office, the Scotland County Sheriff's Office, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation. Numerous searches were conducted in the areas of Clarkton and Laurinburg, employing ground searches, K-9 units, and aerial drones. Community efforts also played a significant role, with organizations like the CUE Center for Missing Persons conducting their own searches and putting up a billboard to keep Brandon's case in the public eye. The family offered a reward for information, which was later supplemented by a reward from the governor's office. Despite these extensive efforts, the case saw few leads for a long period, though foul play was suspected.
A significant breakthrough in the case came in the summer of 2024 when a cold case task force was formed, breathing new life into the investigation. This renewed focus led to the questioning of multiple individuals and a shift in the case from a missing person investigation to a homicide inquiry. In July 2024, three individuals-Michael Anthony Bethea Jr., Shelena Lynn Clark, and LaKeithan JuJuan Tyson-were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and concealment of a death in connection with Brandon's disappearance. Then, in November 2025, human remains were discovered on a property near where Brandon was last seen. These remains were positively identified as belonging to Brandon Carl Wayne Macdonald, bringing a bittersweet end to his family's search. While his family can now bring him home, the case remains an active investigation as the individuals charged await trial.
Last Seen: Mar 25, 2021
