Presumed Located NC - Nathaniel Sample, 27, Traveling from NY to GA, Auto Accident in Gastonia, 26 Sept 2019

[Dre]

@Tbarron12 told me that there was an uneaten gas station cheeseburger found in the front seat which made her think he had very recently stopped in at a gas station. Adds a little something to the hinky meter, moo!

 

[TrueCrimeTrapQueen]

Agreed! I would think that if the cell phone was found in the car with the rest of his belongings that they would have used it to their advantage. After almost a year and a half I have to believe that something happened in Gastonia on the 26th but I do NOT think that he was involved in an accident that he had to walk away from. That doesn’t explain the sudden “about-face” in direction on the 27th or how the car was found totaled (presumably after it was picked up in Asheville on the 28th) in the woods in Gastonia (?)

This ^^^^ I believe is a large part of the problem in this case. Nathaniel would have travelled through many states on his trip from NY to GA. Unless there's credible video of him somewhere between those two places, this is probably a jurisdictional nightmare - one no one wants to take on, it seems. Also, at 1.5 years out, any video of places he may have stopped along the way may no longer exist. Not saying he did stop, but that's a long trip IMO.

Not sure if his cell phone has been mentioned, but I believe getting info from that would be the family's best bet this far out. At least pings should be able to be determined if he had a phone with him. That said, even that wouldn't determine exactly who had possession of the phone.

It saddens me that only one MSM article (posted by @YaYa_521 previously) can be found about this disappearance. I wish I had more ideas, but I'm back to being puzzled. IMO, though, whatever went wrong most likely went bad in or around the Gastonia area.

 

[YaYa_521]

I'm posting this here due to the somewhat close proximity to the accident site involving Nathaniel's car and I-85 as his potential travel route. A body was found in Albemarle, NC which is approx. 1 hr 15 mins from Gatsonia, NC (car accident site) and about 35 mins from I-85 in Concord, NC.

Body found inside former Sagebrush Steakhouse restaurant in Albemarle

• inside the former Sagebrush Steakhouse restaurant on Highway 24/27
• “heavily decomposed”
• no signs of foul play

 

[carbuff]

Map showing Gastonia and the Sagebrush Steakhouse: Google Maps

Looking at reviews and such it appears to have been closed for about two years.

 

[borndem]

I'm posting this here due to the somewhat close proximity to the accident site involving Nathaniel's car and I-85 as his potential travel route. A body was found in Albemarle, NC which is approx. 1 hr 15 mins from Gatsonia, NC (car accident site) and about 35 mins from I-85 in Concord, NC.

Body found inside former Sagebrush Steakhouse restaurant in Albemarle

• inside the former Sagebrush Steakhouse restaurant on Highway 24/27
• “heavily decomposed”
• no signs of foul play

Hmmm, you never know... good idea. Very interesting.
"Heavily decomposed" makes me pause a bit... locations make it certainly possible.

 

[carbuff]

Most likely the remains are of a homeless person who snuck inside for shelter. But if NS was wandering around in a daze from his accident, he might have done the same thing.

 

[carbuff]

Police identify body found inside former steakhouse restaurant in Albemarle

Not Nathaniel.

 

[Laughing]

@LolaMPI , welcome to Websleuths. So sorry that his event brought you here!

Consider becoming a Verified Insider for this situation:

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[Helloyou]

Do we know for sure the plates were on the car when it was found? Could the readers pick up another car using his plates?

 

[CocoChanel]

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Faithfully,
CocoChanel
Administrator/Moderator

 

[lindamichelle1]

Families plead for attention in help finding loved ones in light of Gabby Petito case

This article from 26/27 September verified he was still missing.
No updates though...

 

[MiaMoore]

It looks like he’s been found.
Log in or sign up to view

 

[bombardier]

Rest in peace Nathaniel
So the skull was found 2020 but just ID'ed now or the information was released now? I am not sure where 'Attempt to Locate' has gotten their information (might be through private DMs), I'm going to wait til this hits MSM until I flag this thread to be switched over to Located Deceased.

 

[MiaMoore]

Rest in peace Nathaniel
So the skull was found 2020 but just ID'ed now or the information was released now? I am not sure where 'Attempt to Locate' has gotten their information (might be through private DMs), I'm going to wait til this hits MSM until I flag this thread to be switched over to Located Deceased.

skull was found in 2020. He was just identified, this month. You might be waiting awhile for MSM to confirm it, they barely covered the case to begin with.

 

[MiaMoore]

This is the Namus from the remains found, unfortunately, it had already been removed.

UNIDENTIFIED
Unidentified Person / NamUs #UP74346
Unsure, Uncertain
Date Body Found September 25, 2020
Location Found Dallas, North Carolina

Case Information
Case Numbers
NCMEC Number--
ME/C Case Number B20-4138
Demographics
SexUnsure
Race / Ethnicity Uncertain
Possible First Name--
Possible Middle Name--
Possible Last Name--
Nickname/Alias--
Estimated Age Group Adult - Pre 50
Estimated Age Range (Years)--
Estimated Year of Death--
Estimated PMI--
HeightCannot Estimate
WeightCannot Estimate
Circumstances
TypeUnidentified Deceased
Date Body Found September 25, 2020
NamUs Case Created October 6, 2020
ME/C QA Reviewed--
Location Found Map
LocationDallas, North Carolina 28034
CountyGaston County
GPS Coordinates (Not Mapped)--
Found On Tribal Land No
Circumstances of Recovery Human skull discovered in debris collection screen at wastewater treatment plant. No other remains located.
Details of Recovery
Inventory of Remains--
Condition of Remains Not recognizable - Partial skeletal parts only
Physical Description
Hair Color Unknown
The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

 

[Curious_in_NC]

The Dallas water treatment plant is only a couple of miles north of I-85 in Gastonia. Not sure exactly where on I-85 the accident was, but this kind of makes sense due to the proximity. Sadly, it looks like another injured motorist who left an accident scene disoriented and ended up in water.

RIP Mr. Sample and condolences to your family. I agree with @bombardier however that there needs to be a more verifiable source than a facebook post to confirm the match. If not MSM, maybe LE and whichever DNA experts solved this will issue a press statement.

Here's the UID's thread: NC - NC - Dallas, UnkSex/Race pre-50, UP74346, skull in waste treatment plant, Sep'20

 

[MiaMoore]

The Dallas water treatment plant is only a couple of miles north of I-85 in Gastonia. Not sure exactly where on I-85 the accident was, but this kind of makes sense due to the proximity. Sadly, it looks like another injured motorist who left an accident scene disoriented and ended up in water.

RIP Mr. Sample and condolences to your family. I agree with @bombardier however that there needs to be a more verifiable source than a facebook post to confirm the match. If not MSM, maybe LE and whichever DNA experts solved this will issue a press statement.

Here's the UID's thread: NC - NC - Dallas, UnkSex/Race pre-50, UP74346, skull in waste treatment plant, Sep'20

oh yes, I do agree as well. It’s just discouraging to see how many missing persons have been located but can’t be discussed here because it’s not reported in msm or LE didn’t have a presser. It’s the rules though, I get it. There is a post from a family member as well, not sure if that’s allowed here or not because it’s in the attempt to Locate group .

 

[iulia]

He is no longer on NamUs.