Updated August 4, 2024; details of disappearance updated.
Details of Disappearance
McDonald was last seen in Clarkton, North Carolina on March 25, 2021. He left home at about 3:00 a.m. without saying where he was going. His cellular phone last pinged in the area of Cooper Street in Laurinburg, North Carolina.
At 7:10 a.m. he called his father and they were supposed to meet at home within the hour, but McDonald never arrived and has never been heard from again. After his disappearance, his black 2003 Ford F-150 pickup truck was found wrecked and abandoned in Hope Mills, North Carolina. A photo of the truck is posted with this case summary.
In July 2024, three suspects were arrested and charged with first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder and concealment of death in McDonald's case. The defendants, Michael Anthony "Blu" Bethea Jr., Shelena Lynn Carter, and LaKeithan JuJuan "Joe" Tyson, are pictured with this case summary. Little information is available about the evidence against them.
McDonald's mother believes her son met with foul play and is dead, as she doesn't think he would have abandoned his family. She stated they were a very close-knit family who stayed in regular communication with each other. His remains have not been found, but foul play is suspected in his case due to the circumstances involved.