He was traveling home when he was involved in a single-car accident, hitting a tree head-on. A witness in the area reported seeing him stumble into the woods afterward. He was familiar with the area and could have navigated through the woods to reach home if necessary. Rescue teams searched tirelessly for days, covering both ground and water, but he was never found. He left everything important behind in the car, including his wallet and phone, before fleeing on foot.

His family believe someone may have picked him up. Given his proximity to home—just a couple of miles away—he could have made it back on his own unless he was injured from the accident.