AZ Matthew Spencer, 28, Missing in Northern AZ 8/9/25 when moving to TX. Car possibly broke down

[FoxxTraxx]

28-Year-Old Man Was Driving Cross-Country to Begin New Chapter. Then His Car Broke Down and He Disappeared​

• The Flagstaff Police Department shared a missing person’s bulletin for Matthew Spencer, 28, who was on driving to Houston from Las Vegas on Aug. 5
• He last contacted his family on Aug. 6
• Based on Matthew’s internet activity, authorities suspect the 28-year-old broke down somewhere between Bellemont and Williams in Arizona off Interstate 40

People - Matthew Spencer Missing in Nothern Arizona

This man is still missing. Flagstaff AZ police re-issued a missing person report on 9/9/2025.

 

[The4TierBridge]

I think you accidentally tagged this under Arkansas.

 

[Eli9]

If he was traveling from Las Vegas to Houston why was he driving through Arizona? Was he just wanting a long road trip? That wouldn't be my choice if I was moving and my belongings were in my car. When I moved from CA to where I live now I was worried about my car being broken into on the nights I needed lodging.

Paraphrasing from article linked.

Flagstaff police seek information on missing traveler Matthew Spencer

Matthew Spencer is 5-foot-9 and approximately 200 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.

azdailysun.com

It sounds like he departed on Aug. 5 2025. Same day he was recorded in Flagstaff by automated license plate reader.
Same day at 10:54 pm he messaged family and said he was crossing through Cloudcroft New Mexico.

"However, location data from internet searches conducted through Spencer’s Google account showed an approximate position between Williams and Bellemont, west of Flagstaff, on both Aug. 6 and Aug. 7."

"Spencer has tattoos of the characters Darth Vader and Deadpool on his left arm, a tattoo of the word “Mom” on his right arm, and a tattoo of a shark on his right leg."

 

[GraceG]

If he was traveling from Las Vegas to Houston why was he driving through Arizona? Was he just wanting a long road trip? That wouldn't be my choice if I was moving and my belongings were in my car. When I moved from CA to where I live now I was worried about my car being broken into on the nights I needed lodging.

Paraphrasing from article linked.

Flagstaff police seek information on missing traveler Matthew Spencer

Matthew Spencer is 5-foot-9 and approximately 200 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes.

azdailysun.com

It sounds like he departed on Aug. 5 2025. Same day he was recorded in Flagstaff by automated license plate reader.
Same day at 10:54 pm he messaged family and said he was crossing through Cloudcroft New Mexico.

"However, location data from internet searches conducted through Spencer’s Google account showed an approximate position between Williams and Bellemont, west of Flagstaff, on both Aug. 6 and Aug. 7."

"Spencer has tattoos of the characters Darth Vader and Deadpool on his left arm, a tattoo of the word “Mom” on his right arm, and a tattoo of a shark on his right leg."

I thought that initially until I looked at the map. Las Vegas is in the lower SE part of Nevada and unless you want to go out of your way and head north into Utah before going east you have to drive through Arizona and New Mexico from LAS to get to Texas. Experience

If his location was tagged by google west of Flagstaff the quickest route that way is via US-93 S and I-40 E. But that's only a 4 hour drive. from Vegas. Sounds like he left LAS on the 5th and his location was in that area on the 6th. Sounds like he broke down just west of Flagstaff. I'm assuming he'd planned on heading south on 17 once he got to Flagstaff, then east towards Texas.

My questions: His plates were from Washington, there's reports he started in CA and then stopped in Vegas to visit a sibling. His facebook page said he was was living in Oakland, originally from Virginia. Did he have employment lined up in Texas and was going to HOU for a job? (i.e. was he free to take an extended road trip or was he expected somewhere to work).

The only indication we have of a vehicular breakdown is an inernet search of a vehicular problem. No car has been found. If he's broken down on I-40 E I would have thought Highway Patrol would have stopped and tagged the vehicle (unless he pulled off on a side road to troubleshoot a problem).

Although his Facebook shows a sociable, happy young man, some of his posts are concerning. He talks in May of being homeless. There are multiple posts about running out of gas and not having money to purchase more. (May 18, May 31, July 22). His move to Oakland in June seems to have been met with surprise in the comments. Now he's moving again. I worry if he had car issues, and was in a strange place, low on money he might have had a physical or psychological reaction to all the stress. I'm so glad they are out actively searching for him and family is spreading the word.

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[FoxxTraxx]

News Nation recently reported on this case. There are a few more details but Matthew and his car are still missing.

Matt Spencer disappeared on his way to start a new life

“We went through every city on each route. I think there was three that we had it narrowed down to, and we had called hospitals. We had called jails. This is morbid, but we had called morgues.”

There have been searches and potential leads but those yielded nothing so far as of 10/11/2025.

 

[bluestsocks]

News Nation recently reported on this case. There are a few more details but Matthew and his car are still missing.

Matt Spencer disappeared on his way to start a new life

“We went through every city on each route. I think there was three that we had it narrowed down to, and we had called hospitals. We had called jails. This is morbid, but we had called morgues.”

There have been searches and potential leads but those yielded nothing so far as of 10/11/2025.

I thought it was notable in the News Nation segment, his family indicated he told them he was in New Mexico, but he was actually in Arizona, and his Google history indicated he might have been confused about where he was.

 

[Warwick7]

Wow, it is actually amazing his family was able to get into his google....

https://www.newsnationnow.com/missing/matt-spencer/

 

[Knox]

Posting a picture of Matt, so we can all see his face on the thread.

https://www.newsnationnow.com/missing/matt-spencer/

 

[GraceG]

His FB talked about being previously homeless, and others stated he was moving around a lot, he might have been dealing with some mental health issues and the automotive breakdown on the trip sent him into a state where he wasn't acting with reason. I hope he's found, he could be living on the streets, hopefully someone will see his photo and recognize him.

 

[Eli9]

His FB talked about being previously homeless, and others stated he was moving around a lot, he might have been dealing with some mental health issues and the automotive breakdown on the trip sent him into a state where he wasn't acting with reason. I hope he's found, he could be living on the streets, hopefully someone will see his photo and recognize him.

Good point.

 

[Teche]

Any updates?

 

[AZShamus]

Nancy Grace episode covering the disappearance of Matthew Spencer aired on October 14th. Missing in America Network is currently conducting searches in the Williams/Flagstaff area.
Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

 

[FoxxTraxx]

Nancy Grace episode covering the disappearance of Matthew Spencer aired on October 14th. Missing in America Network is currently conducting searches in the Williams/Flagstaff area.
Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

I watched this presentation last night and it was quite good. I'm not a huge fan of NG but she covered Mathew's disappearance very thoroughly. They also discussed License Plate Reading technology, and why it has helped this case but has not provided any solid answers on Mathew's whereabouts. It's especially puzzling that Mathew's car has not turned up anywhere in more than 2 months now.

 

[tarabull]

28-Year-Old Man Was Driving Cross-Country to Begin New Chapter. Then His Car Broke Down and He Disappeared​

• The Flagstaff Police Department shared a missing person’s bulletin for Matthew Spencer, 28, who was on driving to Houston from Las Vegas on Aug. 5
• He last contacted his family on Aug. 6
• Based on Matthew’s internet activity, authorities suspect the 28-year-old broke down somewhere between Bellemont and Williams in Arizona off Interstate 40

People - Matthew Spencer Missing in Nothern Arizona

This man is still missing. Flagstaff AZ police re-issued a missing person report on 9/9/2025.

Snipped from above...

• Based on Matthew’s internet activity, authorities suspect the 28-year-old broke down somewhere between Bellemont and Williams in Arizona off Interstate 40

Shades of Chelsea Grimm!

U

AZ Thread 'AZ - Chelsea Grimm, 32, traveling from San Diego, CA to CT, car found Oct 5 on Forest Rd 6 near Williams, she was last seen in Williams, 28 Sept 23'

Oct 8, 2023

Chelsea Grimm (Courtesy: Coconino County Sheriff's Office)

Arizona missing persons cases - 2023

Information was supplied by law enforcement and describes current, active reports of missing persons in the Phoenix-metro area and other cities in Arizona.

www.fox10phoenix.com

Officials with the Coconino County Sheriff's Office announced on Oct. 5 that a car belonging to a 32-year-old woman named Chelsea Grimm was found by deputies in the Williams District, after a suspicious vehicle call from hunters in the Ashfork area.

Grimm, according to officials with CCSO, was last seen in the Williams area on Sept. 28. She was reported missing by Phoenix Police on Oct. 4.

Phoenix Police officials said Grimm was traveling...

• Unalienable Rights
• Replies: 705
• Forum: 2020's Missing

• 
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[phi1ip]

If he was traveling from Las Vegas to Houston why was he driving through Arizona? Was he just wanting a long road trip? That wouldn't be my choice if I was moving and my belongings were in my car.

Not sure about anyone else, but when I get directions from Google Maps to go from Las Vegas to Houston, it has me take the exact route Matthew seemed to have taken. It directed me right through Flagstaff. Flagstaff is not very far from Las Vegas. I believe it's like... a three hour drive?? In fact, being from Flagstaff, I know that whenever people need to be airlifted to more advanced hospitals, they often fly them to Vegas instead of Phoenix.

Also, if he was previously homeless, as speculated in this thread, he may not have had many belongings to bring with him...

 

[tarabull]

I thought it was notable in the News Nation segment, his family indicated he told them he was in New Mexico, but he was actually in Arizona, and his Google history indicated he might have been confused about where he was.

BBM above, just jumping off your post, FWIW...


'Where am I': Family reveals last searches before man went missing in northern Arizona

'Where am I': Family reveals last searches before man went missing in northern Arizona

Matthew Spencer, 28, was driving from Las Vegas to Houston in the beginning of August. His family is still searching for him or anyone who might know where he is.

www.12news.com

 

[truthfinder2019]

​

DESPERATE FAMILY SEARCHING FOR MATTHEW, LAST SEEN IN HYUNDAI TUSCAN LEAVING VEGAS, WHO IS HIDING CAR?

CRIME Stories with Nancy Grace

www.crimeonline.com

Las Vegas to Flagstaff to Cloudcroft

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[OddOneOut]

Nancy Grace episode covering the disappearance of Matthew Spencer aired on October 14th. Missing in America Network is currently conducting searches in the Williams/Flagstaff area.
Crime Stories with Nancy Grace

So, if I have this right, his last coordinates were off of Garland Parry Road near a lake (Schott Lake?) he was researching. His last google search about why my car won't turn over was on August 7th at 12:22 p.m.

The area appears to have been searched without finding him. Either he or someone else must have gotten his car running again or towed it somewhere? I wonder if the car could be under water in that lake or another source of water.

 

[rosesfromangels]

So, if I have this right, his last coordinates were off of Garland Parry Road near a lake he was researching. His last google search about why my car won't turn over was on August 7th at 12:22 p.m.

The area appears to have been searched without finding him. Either he or someone else must have gotten his car running again or towed it somewhere? I wonder if the car could be under water in that lake or another source of water.

In the lake was my first thought. Hope that’s wrong. : (

 

[starlightstarbright]

The area between Bellemont and Williams, AZ is even before you reach Flagstaff coming from Las Vegas (3.5 hours drive). He left LV on Aug 5th and the last of the Google searches happened on the 7th.

That’s 2 days of hanging around not very far from where he started and a whole 7+ hours from where he told his family he was in Cloudcroft, NM.

That’s very strange, IMO.

I actually wonder how reliable the Google data is. You can turn it off. What if he was in the Flagstaff area, car broke down but he got it fixed, then he turned off any tracking on his phone and went elsewhere for whatever reason.

I think the biggest clue is that the car hasn’t been found. It means he didn’t break down and abandon it where they think he did. Or it’s somewhere hard to see (and he might be with it). MOO