In the winter of 1982, the community of Concord, North Carolina, was faced with a perplexing mystery that began with the disappearance of 27-year-old Timothy Barton Foltz. A co-owner of Colonial Jewelers in the Main Street Mall, Timothy was last seen on January 24, 1982. The day after he was last seen, a Monday, he did not report for work, which was highly uncharacteristic of him. His absence was immediately felt by his business partners, David and Ann English.
The situation took a more alarming turn when it was discovered that nearly $300,000 worth of diamond rings were missing from the store's safe. The safe itself showed no signs of forced entry and had been properly secured over the weekend.
The investigation into Timothy's disappearance deepened with the discovery of his metallic blue Chevy Monte Carlo more than a month later, on February 28, 1982. The vehicle was found abandoned in the parking lot of a Holiday Inn in Concord. Back at his apartment, investigators found all of his personal belongings untouched, suggesting he had not planned to leave. It was determined that the burglar alarm at the jewelry store had been switched off, and the key was still in the panel. Only the store owners had keys to the alarm, leading to the conclusion that Timothy's key was likely used. While some might have suspected his involvement in the theft, those close to him, including his mother who traveled from Ohio to be near the investigation, insisted he was not the type to steal and was happy with his life. The prevailing belief among many at the time was that he may have been a victim of foul play, possibly forced to open the safe.
The timeline of Timothy's last known movements adds another layer of complexity to the case. After closing the jewelry store on Saturday evening, he attended a party at the English's home. He reportedly left their house around 4:00 a.m. on Sunday, telling Mrs. English he was going to the store to do some work. His car was later seen at his apartment around 8:00 a.m. that same morning. This suggests he may have made it home after his early morning trip to the jewelry store. For decades, the disappearance of Timothy Foltz and the theft of the diamonds have remained one of Concord's most enduring unsolved mysteries. Despite the passage of time and ongoing investigative efforts, no definitive answers have been found regarding his whereabouts or the circumstances surrounding that fateful January weekend. The case leaves a lingering question of whether he was a willing participant in the diamond theft or a tragic victim of a crime that led to his vanishing.Last Seen: Jan 24, 1982
