On a weekend visit to Natchez, Mississippi, from his home in Bossier City, Louisiana, 55-year-old Carl A. King vanished in the early morning hours of Sunday, June 23, 2019. He and a female companion had been enjoying the evening in the Natchez Under the Hill district and were walking back to their hotel. Shortly before 1 a.m., their path along Silver Street was blocked by floodwaters from the Mississippi River. It was then that a decision was made that would forever alter the course of the night.
According to his companion, Judy Martin, Carl decided to try and wade through the flooded area to see if it was passable. At approximately 12:55 a.m., after removing his boots, he walked past the barricades set up to warn pedestrians of the danger and entered the water near the boat ramp at Silver Street and D.A. Biglane Street. Martin recounted to authorities that he had almost reached a "do not enter" sign on the other side when he suddenly went under the surface and did not come back up. A distressed 911 call was made at 12:44 a.m. to report that help was needed.
In the days that followed, an extensive search was launched in the Mississippi River for any sign of Carl King. The operation involved numerous agencies, including the Natchez Police Department, fire department personnel, the Mississippi Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, and Adams County Search and Rescue. The volunteer group, the Cajun Navy 2016, also joined the effort to locate him. Despite the comprehensive searches by air, boat, and on foot, no trace of Carl King was ever found, and he has not been seen or heard from since that night. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance have led authorities to presume he is deceased. The case remains a painful and unresolved chapter for his loved ones, an overview that highlights a weekend getaway ending in tragedy after an encounter with treacherous floodwaters.
Last Seen: Jun 23, 2019
