Cory Christopher Schroeder, known affectionately to his loved ones as 'Stretch,' disappeared on May 21, 2019, just one day before his 45th birthday. A man described by his sister as a 'gentle giant' with a heart bigger than his imposing 6-foot-8-inch frame, his absence has left a void in the lives of his family. On the day he was last seen, a friend reportedly dropped him off in the vicinity of the Avilla Grocery Store in Benton, Arkansas. He was wearing a grey hooded sweatshirt and carrying a black and red backpack at the time. Just before he vanished, Cory made a cryptic post on his Facebook page, stating, 'Going to be leaving Facebook in a few days.. Going on a new adventure,' leaving his family to wonder what he meant. He has not been seen or heard from since that day.
Cory's family, particularly his sister Charish, knew something was wrong when he didn't show up for his birthday celebration. It was highly uncharacteristic of him to not be in contact, especially for such a significant occasion. This prompted his family to report him missing to the Saline County Sheriff's Office and begin their own search for answers. Charish has described her brother as a goofy and kind-hearted person who would give anyone the shirt off his back. Cory is a father who is deeply loved by his family, and his sister is convinced he would not have willingly walked away from his daughter. His family believes that someone in the Benton community holds the key to his disappearance and they continue to hope that person will come forward with information.
The investigation into Cory's disappearance is being handled by the Saline County Sheriff's Office. His case is listed in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System detailing his distinct tattoos, including an 8-ball on his right upper arm, an infinity symbol with the names 'Aiden & Holly' on his left upper arm, and the letters 'DMH' across his chest, among others. He also has noticeable scars on both of his arms and wrists. Over the years, his family has endured the pain of not knowing what happened to him, a wound that remains open without closure. The disappearance of a man of his stature has been a perplexing mystery to both his loved ones and investigators, who continue to seek any information that might lead to his whereabouts and finally bring answers to his grieving family.
Last Seen: May 21, 2019
