OUTER BANKS, N.C. — An Arkansas man has been reported missing after his pickup truck was found abandoned and stuck in the shifting sands along a beach in North Carolina, with his whereabouts still unknown.
Chris Palmer, 39, of Arkansas, was last in contact with his family on Jan. 9, according to the National Park Service. Family members said Palmer set out on Dec. 8 on a camping trip through national forests and had been traveling across multiple states.
National Park Service rangers located Palmer’s red 2017 Ford F-250 stuck on the beach at Cape Hatteras National Seashore on Jan. 12. The vehicle remained unclaimed, and Arkansas authorities officially listed Palmer as a missing person on Jan. 16.
According to Palmer’s father, Bren Palmer, the family was notified by the Greene County Sheriff’s Department that the truck had been found on Jan. 10, one day after Palmer said he was planning to travel to Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia.
Authorities noted that the truck was discovered in the opposite direction of Palmer’s intended route, raising further concern about what may have happened during his trip.
Palmer is described as a white male, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, with blue eyes and strawberry-blond hair. Officials believe he may have been traveling with his German shepherd and could still be somewhere in the area, according to WAVY.
Family members said they have been unable to reach Palmer since Jan. 9 and are increasingly concerned for his safety and well-being.
Cape Hatteras National Seashore is known for its shifting sand dunes, strong currents, and hazardous terrain. The waters off the coast are often referred to as the “Graveyard of the Atlantic” due to centuries of shipwrecks caused by unpredictable conditions.
Anyone who was in the Cape Point area on the evening of Jan. 11 or who may have information related to Palmer’s whereabouts is asked to contact the National Park Service at 888-653-0009 or submit a tip online.
