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OP (Original Post) – Detailed Case Overview
Hello Websleuths community,
I’m posting this comprehensive thread to raise awareness and hopefully generate new, verifiable tips for the disappearance of James Lubin “Jamie” Valdez, 47, from Booneville, Logan County, Arkansas. Jamie has been missing since early June 2021, and despite media coverage, podcasts, family advocacy, and a renewed volunteer search in December 2025, there are still major gaps. The case remains active with the Booneville Police Department.
All information below is compiled from publicly available sources only (e.g., The Vanished Podcast Ep. 363, NewsNation/Yahoo articles Dec 2025, KNWA/5NEWS local reports, Solve the Case profile, Charley Project/NamUs equivalents via searches, family statements via sister Shawn Claiborne, and related discussions). No speculation, accusations, or private details—only sourced facts and structured questions to encourage helpful input.
Core Details
• Full Name: James Lubin “Jamie/Jaimie” Valdez
• Age at Disappearance: 47
• Description: Caucasian male, 5’9”-5’10”, 200-220 lbs, brown hair, brown eyes, goatee (at time), mole on left cheek, tattoo “Sierra” on left arm
• Last Known Clothing: Black checkered shorts (per some reports)
• Health: Type 1 diabetic (insulin-dependent); was without medication/supplies when he left—experts note survival unlikely long-term without help
• Background: Recently achieved ~1 year sobriety; positive health changes (weight loss, diabetes management); newly married (May 4, 2021) to Anna Valdez; relocated from Texas to Booneville to help care for Anna’s mother (broken back)
• Vehicle: 2010 blue/gray Chevy Equinox (registered to wife Anna; later repossessed, current location unknown)
• Case Status: Active; Booneville PD lead, Logan County Sheriff’s Office assisting
• Case #: 21-00261
• Contact: Booneville Police Department – 479-675-3508
(Family tip line via Shawn: sometimes listed as 479-358-6989 or [email protected] in older posts—verify with LE if using)
Detailed Timeline (Sourced from Public Reports)
• May 4, 2021: Jamie marries Anna Valdez; they move to Booneville from Texas.
• Early June 2021: Jamie reaches 1-year sobriety milestone; managing diabetes well; family describes positive outlook.
• June 9, 2021: Argument with Anna over her picking up an extra work shift (they had planned family time). Jamie visits Anna at work; argument escalates. He returns home, packs clothes, takes ~$600 cash from mother-in-law, leaves in the Equinox.
• June 10, 2021: Last seen by family (Anna) driving away from home on Carefree Lane.
• June 12, 2021: Reported sighting in Ozark, AR (~30 miles north of Booneville). Jamie dines with an old coworker/friend and her family; states intent to return home and reconcile with Anna.
• June 17, 2021: Teens reportedly see the vehicle in Sugar Grove area and write prank message in dust on rear window.
• June 19, 2021: Vehicle discovered abandoned/locked off Dry Creek Road near a swimming hole/bluff in Sugar Grove (~10-15 miles SE of Booneville). Found by Anna’s boss’s husband (Jamie’s childhood friend, visiting family cemetery nearby). Vehicle near childhood/family area.
• June 20, 2021: Anna files missing person report after urging from sister Shawn Claiborne.
• Oct 23, 2021: Candlelight vigil held in downtown Booneville (organized by family, Booneville PD, We Help The Missing).
• Sep 19, 2022: The Vanished Podcast Episode 363 airs (includes family interviews; highlights gaps, coincidences, conflicting accounts).
• Feb 12, 2023: KNWA local feature on ongoing search.
• Dec 3-8, 2025: National coverage (NewsNation “Missing” segment, Yahoo article) features sister Shawn; notes “eerie” car message was teen prank.
• Dec 10, 2025: Logan County Sheriff’s Office + Booneville PD conduct volunteer search in Sugar Grove area—no new finds reported.
• 2026 Status: No public updates found through Feb 2026; family continues pleas (e.g., FB posts: “Jamie is still missing!!! If you know something… reach out to me or Booneville PD”).
Vehicle & Evidence Notes (Publicly Reported)
• Found locked, near bluff/swimming hole/family cemetery.
• Condition: Driver’s seat torn/ripped; engine reportedly tampered with.
• Items: Clothing, insurance card, loose change (some outside/nearby); no phone, no keys, no .40 caliber Glock handgun (purchased by Anna for Jamie; missing).
• No food/drink wrappers noted.
• Message on rear window: Variations reported as “Help me, he is near” / “HE IS NEAR HELP ME” in dust—confirmed as unrelated prank by group of teens (admitted; rain/photographed but not related to Jamie).
• Forensics: No fingerprints/blood reportedly processed; vehicle released to Anna (later repossessed).
• Related: Possible investigated link to Thorina Watson (missing April 2020 near same Sugar Grove area)—unconfirmed/no public resolution.
Family & Key Associates (Public Roles Only)
• Wife: Anna Valdez (reported missing; found/photographed vehicle).
• Sister: Shawn Claiborne (primary public advocate; media interviews, FB posts urging tips).
• Teenage daughter: In Ozark area (close bond mentioned).
• Mother-in-law: Provided $600 cash.
• Others: Old coworker/friend (Ozark dinner); wife’s boss & boss’s husband (childhood friend who found vehicle); brother-in-law (lived in home); four teens (prank message).
Structured Gaps & Questions – What Could Help Most These are high-value unknowns pulled from podcasts, media, and family statements. If you have verifiable info (e.g., footage, docs, first-hand accounts), please contact Booneville PD directly with case #21-00261—do NOT post sensitive details here.
1. Last Confirmed Contact: Beyond the June 12 Ozark dinner, any verified sighting, call, text, or interaction after? Exact time/location/witnesses?
2. Vehicle Timeline & Access: Who had access to the Equinox after Jamie left (friends/family/acquaintances)? Any sightings June 10–19 on Booneville–Ozark–Sugar Grove routes?
3. Digital/Financial Trails: Any post-June 9 activity—ATM withdrawals, fuel purchases, bank transactions, phone pings/Wi-Fi, online use? What happened to the $600 cash?
4. Sugar Grove Area Witnesses: Anyone at/near the swimming hole/bluff June 2021 who saw the vehicle earlier, unusual activity, or people around it? Hunting cams, driveway cams, dashcams from those dates/routes?
5. Personal Context: Booneville, Ozark, or Texas contacts who spoke with Jamie early June 2021 about plans, stressors, or next destinations?
6. Associate Details: Verifiable (non-speculative) context on relationships with Ozark coworker, childhood friends, brother-in-law, etc.?
7. Other: Any documented tie to Thorina Watson case? Post-2025 leads?
How to Help Safely
• Submit any June 9–19, 2021 footage (dashcam, security, trail/hunting cams) on relevant routes directly to Booneville PD (479-675-3508, ref: 21-00261).
• Share this thread widely, including agency contact + case #.
• Reward: Up to $5,500 mentioned in some coverage.
• Rules Here: No doxxing, no naming/accusing uncharged individuals, no unverified rumors, no private addresses/phone numbers beyond public agency info. Keep it factual and LE-directed.
Jamie was a father, husband, and someone who had turned his life around—someone knows more. Let’s help bring answers to his family.
Mods: Please pin or monitor if helpful. Updates welcome with sources.
Sources (partial list—feel free to add/verify):
• The Vanished Podcast Ep. 363 (2022)
• NewsNation “Missing” segment / Yahoo (Dec 2025)
• Solve the Case profile
• KNWA/5NEWS articles (2021-2023)
• Family FB posts (e.g., Shawn Claiborne pleas)
• NamUs-related entries
Thank you for reading and sharing responsibly.
Hello Websleuths community,
I’m posting this comprehensive thread to raise awareness and hopefully generate new, verifiable tips for the disappearance of James Lubin “Jamie” Valdez, 47, from Booneville, Logan County, Arkansas. Jamie has been missing since early June 2021, and despite media coverage, podcasts, family advocacy, and a renewed volunteer search in December 2025, there are still major gaps. The case remains active with the Booneville Police Department.
All information below is compiled from publicly available sources only (e.g., The Vanished Podcast Ep. 363, NewsNation/Yahoo articles Dec 2025, KNWA/5NEWS local reports, Solve the Case profile, Charley Project/NamUs equivalents via searches, family statements via sister Shawn Claiborne, and related discussions). No speculation, accusations, or private details—only sourced facts and structured questions to encourage helpful input.
Core Details
• Full Name: James Lubin “Jamie/Jaimie” Valdez
• Age at Disappearance: 47
• Description: Caucasian male, 5’9”-5’10”, 200-220 lbs, brown hair, brown eyes, goatee (at time), mole on left cheek, tattoo “Sierra” on left arm
• Last Known Clothing: Black checkered shorts (per some reports)
• Health: Type 1 diabetic (insulin-dependent); was without medication/supplies when he left—experts note survival unlikely long-term without help
• Background: Recently achieved ~1 year sobriety; positive health changes (weight loss, diabetes management); newly married (May 4, 2021) to Anna Valdez; relocated from Texas to Booneville to help care for Anna’s mother (broken back)
• Vehicle: 2010 blue/gray Chevy Equinox (registered to wife Anna; later repossessed, current location unknown)
• Case Status: Active; Booneville PD lead, Logan County Sheriff’s Office assisting
• Case #: 21-00261
• Contact: Booneville Police Department – 479-675-3508
(Family tip line via Shawn: sometimes listed as 479-358-6989 or [email protected] in older posts—verify with LE if using)
Detailed Timeline (Sourced from Public Reports)
• May 4, 2021: Jamie marries Anna Valdez; they move to Booneville from Texas.
• Early June 2021: Jamie reaches 1-year sobriety milestone; managing diabetes well; family describes positive outlook.
• June 9, 2021: Argument with Anna over her picking up an extra work shift (they had planned family time). Jamie visits Anna at work; argument escalates. He returns home, packs clothes, takes ~$600 cash from mother-in-law, leaves in the Equinox.
• June 10, 2021: Last seen by family (Anna) driving away from home on Carefree Lane.
• June 12, 2021: Reported sighting in Ozark, AR (~30 miles north of Booneville). Jamie dines with an old coworker/friend and her family; states intent to return home and reconcile with Anna.
• June 17, 2021: Teens reportedly see the vehicle in Sugar Grove area and write prank message in dust on rear window.
• June 19, 2021: Vehicle discovered abandoned/locked off Dry Creek Road near a swimming hole/bluff in Sugar Grove (~10-15 miles SE of Booneville). Found by Anna’s boss’s husband (Jamie’s childhood friend, visiting family cemetery nearby). Vehicle near childhood/family area.
• June 20, 2021: Anna files missing person report after urging from sister Shawn Claiborne.
• Oct 23, 2021: Candlelight vigil held in downtown Booneville (organized by family, Booneville PD, We Help The Missing).
• Sep 19, 2022: The Vanished Podcast Episode 363 airs (includes family interviews; highlights gaps, coincidences, conflicting accounts).
• Feb 12, 2023: KNWA local feature on ongoing search.
• Dec 3-8, 2025: National coverage (NewsNation “Missing” segment, Yahoo article) features sister Shawn; notes “eerie” car message was teen prank.
• Dec 10, 2025: Logan County Sheriff’s Office + Booneville PD conduct volunteer search in Sugar Grove area—no new finds reported.
• 2026 Status: No public updates found through Feb 2026; family continues pleas (e.g., FB posts: “Jamie is still missing!!! If you know something… reach out to me or Booneville PD”).
Vehicle & Evidence Notes (Publicly Reported)
• Found locked, near bluff/swimming hole/family cemetery.
• Condition: Driver’s seat torn/ripped; engine reportedly tampered with.
• Items: Clothing, insurance card, loose change (some outside/nearby); no phone, no keys, no .40 caliber Glock handgun (purchased by Anna for Jamie; missing).
• No food/drink wrappers noted.
• Message on rear window: Variations reported as “Help me, he is near” / “HE IS NEAR HELP ME” in dust—confirmed as unrelated prank by group of teens (admitted; rain/photographed but not related to Jamie).
• Forensics: No fingerprints/blood reportedly processed; vehicle released to Anna (later repossessed).
• Related: Possible investigated link to Thorina Watson (missing April 2020 near same Sugar Grove area)—unconfirmed/no public resolution.
Family & Key Associates (Public Roles Only)
• Wife: Anna Valdez (reported missing; found/photographed vehicle).
• Sister: Shawn Claiborne (primary public advocate; media interviews, FB posts urging tips).
• Teenage daughter: In Ozark area (close bond mentioned).
• Mother-in-law: Provided $600 cash.
• Others: Old coworker/friend (Ozark dinner); wife’s boss & boss’s husband (childhood friend who found vehicle); brother-in-law (lived in home); four teens (prank message).
Structured Gaps & Questions – What Could Help Most These are high-value unknowns pulled from podcasts, media, and family statements. If you have verifiable info (e.g., footage, docs, first-hand accounts), please contact Booneville PD directly with case #21-00261—do NOT post sensitive details here.
1. Last Confirmed Contact: Beyond the June 12 Ozark dinner, any verified sighting, call, text, or interaction after? Exact time/location/witnesses?
2. Vehicle Timeline & Access: Who had access to the Equinox after Jamie left (friends/family/acquaintances)? Any sightings June 10–19 on Booneville–Ozark–Sugar Grove routes?
3. Digital/Financial Trails: Any post-June 9 activity—ATM withdrawals, fuel purchases, bank transactions, phone pings/Wi-Fi, online use? What happened to the $600 cash?
4. Sugar Grove Area Witnesses: Anyone at/near the swimming hole/bluff June 2021 who saw the vehicle earlier, unusual activity, or people around it? Hunting cams, driveway cams, dashcams from those dates/routes?
5. Personal Context: Booneville, Ozark, or Texas contacts who spoke with Jamie early June 2021 about plans, stressors, or next destinations?
6. Associate Details: Verifiable (non-speculative) context on relationships with Ozark coworker, childhood friends, brother-in-law, etc.?
7. Other: Any documented tie to Thorina Watson case? Post-2025 leads?
How to Help Safely
• Submit any June 9–19, 2021 footage (dashcam, security, trail/hunting cams) on relevant routes directly to Booneville PD (479-675-3508, ref: 21-00261).
• Share this thread widely, including agency contact + case #.
• Reward: Up to $5,500 mentioned in some coverage.
• Rules Here: No doxxing, no naming/accusing uncharged individuals, no unverified rumors, no private addresses/phone numbers beyond public agency info. Keep it factual and LE-directed.
Jamie was a father, husband, and someone who had turned his life around—someone knows more. Let’s help bring answers to his family.
Mods: Please pin or monitor if helpful. Updates welcome with sources.
Sources (partial list—feel free to add/verify):
• The Vanished Podcast Ep. 363 (2022)
• NewsNation “Missing” segment / Yahoo (Dec 2025)
• Solve the Case profile
• KNWA/5NEWS articles (2021-2023)
• Family FB posts (e.g., Shawn Claiborne pleas)
• NamUs-related entries
Thank you for reading and sharing responsibly.
