Michael Ballard Missing Person Case

On the morning of February 13, 2017, 58-year-old Michael Henley Ballard departed from his residence with plans for a day of kayaking on the York River. An experienced kayaker, he drove to the Gloucester Point Boat Ramp in Gloucester, Virginia, with his twelve-foot, forest-green, sit-in kayak. He was expected to be home by that evening, but as the hours passed and night fell, Michael did not return. His wife reported him missing the following morning. He was last seen wearing a tan shirt, khaki pants, tan boots, and a brown and green John Deere hat.

Authorities promptly began a search for the missing man. Michael's vehicle was discovered parked at the Gloucester Point Boat Ramp, just as he had left it. However, there was no sign of Michael or his kayak. Security footage from the area confirmed his arrival at the ramp with the kayak attached to his vehicle, but shed no further light on his subsequent movements. The U.S. Coast Guard, in conjunction with the Gloucester County Sheriff's Office, Virginia Marine Police, and the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, launched an extensive search operation. Over the course of more than 16 hours, crews covered 265 square nautical miles of the York River by both boat and air, but tragically, no trace of Michael or his kayak was found.

The official search was suspended on the evening of February 14, 2017. The difficult decision was made due to the lack of new information and the belief that all searchable areas had been thoroughly covered. Authorities indicated that the search could resume if his kayak were to be discovered. Despite the extensive efforts of multiple agencies and the heartbreak of his loved ones, Michael's disappearance remains unresolved. The prevailing theory is that he may have drowned in a tragic accident on the water, but without any physical evidence, his case remains a painful mystery. The investigation into what happened to Michael Henley Ballard that day on the York River continues.
Last Seen: Feb 13, 2017

Coast Guard calls off search for missing kayaker in York River - WTKR

Missing Person / NamUs #MP71336 | NamUs

Michael Henley Ballard - The Charley Project

Coast Guard suspends search for missing kayaker - Gazette Journal

Coast Guard suspends search for missing kayaker | Spartan Echo

Michael Henley Ballard : r/NotForgotten - Reddit

Michael Henley Ballard - Facebook

Unsolved - Michael Henley Ballard #Missing ...