NE NE - Chance Englebert, 25, Gering, 6 July 2019 (new father)

[EricaL]

Yes, statistically high for males and also there is high likelihood said males are also intoxicated. I find this “phenomenon” (intoxicated men later found in close bodies of water) really sad and unsettling but I needed to do research as I live in a city where the “smiley face killer” theory is rampant (and it’s just not statistically sound)
I’m so hopeful that Chance was so angry and hurt that he ran from his past life, but I’m quite convinced in thinking it was a bunch of unfortunate variables lending themselves to a terrible and tragic accident. Moo

Yes I agree 100%. After listening to the Vanished podcast I immediately felt that a drowning was
highly likely. I also feel that it’s super unfair to “punish” Baylee if he simply drown. At least our family didn’t split after our drowning, and I feel like it’s only adding to all the family members pain, and I am praying for answers so that they can start healing their families.

 

[rosesfromangels]

This is an example of YouTubers specifically acting aggressively and antagonistic towards the family members in this case because they feel Baylee is responsible. I can see why Baylee doesn’t want to speak to them and I am glad Marisa spoke to her because she is so professional and responsible.

I actually think this gal is quite good, and does an excellent job keeping these missing persons cases front and center. I do, however, agree that it is not a good idea to go knocking on someone's door for many reasons, safety being at the top of that list.

Amateur opinion and speculation

 

[CluelessWonder]

To me, it makes no sense that the wife of a missing man doesn't want to answer the door and speak to someone who is investigating the disappearance. But I just can't imagine a scenario where this is foul play. I have thought self-harm from the beginning, and I still do. But I can't discount the idea that he might have fallen into water. If there was a storm, it would be easy for a vehicle to pass and bump him and send him off a bridge. I did look at one of the bridges over the river, and it looks like there is a rail separating pedestrians from vehicles.

 

[CluelessWonder]

To me, it makes no sense that the wife of a missing man doesn't want to answer the door and speak to someone who is investigating the disappearance. But I just can't imagine a scenario where this is foul play. I have thought self-harm from the beginning, and I still do. But I can't discount the idea that he might have fallen into water. If there was a storm, it would be easy for a vehicle to pass and bump him and send him off a bridge. I did look at one of the bridges over the river, and it looks like there is a rail separating pedestrians from vehicles.

 

[EricaL]

Thanks for saying that I am trying to work everything out in my mind because the case seems to make no sense to me.

I can see what you are saying and at the same time I am trying to put myself on her shoes, and if I was raising a baby, financially supporting a household and going to nursing school it seems like certain things would have to take a backseat.

She did interview with Marissa and the police.

She she be available to everyone who wants to interview her? Even people who are accusing her/trying to railroad her, and ruin her and her baby’s lives? If she’s innocent, what does she have to gain from talking to people, who think she’s guilty? And in her mind if he left her even to commit suicide she’s thinking OK raising this baby is all on me; that’s my only job. Also her kid is going to watch all of this and someone may have told her to be careful because Banks will see and be very sensitive to everything his mother says, so she’s being selective.

When I had my first baby I was 23, but I had a college degree and could get a decent job (and didn’t lose my husband). She has no ability to support the baby without a degree, and she’s what 21? That’s a lot. It’s really hard to even put myself in her shoes.

I agree that he could have been suicidal. Some of the activities he did seemed mad. And he had a lot of stress. For one thing babies can cause depression because they are need machines. Moreover both families were causing problems. His mother said that she had begged Baylee to leave Chance, and Chance had some kind of text fight with his brother (which was not released and no I don’t know which one). Chance’s wife and mother were not getting along. Chance has made a huge mistake in talking about his marriage problems with his parents, and they were now butting in, and telling them they should split. Then his in-laws are telling him he doesn’t make enough money and he has a new baby and a job loss and Baylee starting college etc.

Also Baylee said, “He walked off and I didn’t think he was serious.” Serious? About what? Did he tell her he was just going to kill himself? Or did he say he’ll just walk or that he would get a ride? Also, Baylee said that they weren’t fighting in the van, which is hard to believe given the previous and following circumstances. I believe they were fighting. Or he was stonewalling and sitting in ice-cold silence. I feel like she’s seeing their whole marriage through rose-colored glasses. So I can see why someone would just be at the “I can’t take my life” point. I think you’re making some excellent points. I’m in my 30s and thinking of all the issues he was dealing with stresses ME out.

To me, it makes no sense that the wife of a missing man doesn't want to answer the door and speak to someone who is investigating the disappearance. But I just can't imagine a scenario where this is foul play. I have thought self-harm from the beginning, and I still do. But I can't discount the idea that he might have fallen into water. If there was

To me, it makes no sense that the wife of a missing man doesn't want to answer the door and speak to someone who is investigating the disappearance. But I just can't imagine a scenario where this is foul play. I have thought self-harm from the beginning, and I still do. But I can't discount the idea that he might have fallen into water. If there was a storm, it would be easy for a vehicle to pass and bump him and send him off a bridge. I did look at one of the bridges over the river, and it looks like there is a rail separating pedestrians from vehicles.

 

[EricaL]

So this is my theory list of what happened in order of probability after thinking about it and doing a little research.

1) accidental drowning in Platte River or nearby creek

2) suicide either jumped in the river or walked into wilderness (as he hasn’t been found)

3) drug related crime-someone thought he was a rival drug dealer or similar (like a drug addict who murdered him for cash or a drug cartel murder)

4) hypothermia, lightning or non-drowning but exposure-caused. I needed to know the temperature to check if he was within the given parameters for hypothermia and was shocked to see that the temperature was recorded at 57 at midnight July 5th (two hours after his last ping). July hypothermia sounds mad, but apparently totally possible. Before the drop, it had been a mild day with apparent temperature drop being caused by the thunderstorm. This website allows you to choose Scottsbluff and July 4/5 to see the drop. Hypothermia can cause loss of consciousness and confusion (but is usually only mild) about 900 people in the US die of hypothermia per year, and I now think it’s plausible.

I included these because I know y’all are going to be interested in seeing the info.

Weather in July 2019 in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, USA

Hypothermia: When "cold and wet" is dangerous

“Hypothermia can occur even with prolonged, unprotected exposure to relatively mild ambient temperatures of 60 to 65 degrees. Add wind-chill and wet (from the weather or perspiration) and an unsuspecting worker can succumb.”

5) murdered by a family member or close friend (I think it’s a possibility, but I can’t find a motive or ability (and I think they would tell on each other)

6) stranger abducted him (I don’t personally find this likely, but if he was desperate at this point (anyone not just him) would be more likely to take a ride from a stranger.

7) Left due to stress. When I heard his story, it seemed like he was battling a war on every front: Marriage, new baby, job loss (and as someone pointed out earlier his company missed payroll that would wreak havoc on his bank/bills) finances, fighting with his parents, wife/mother battle, fighting with in-laws, 2 jobs, wife starting college, new home, text fight with brother and that’s just what we know about. I don’t think he did, but I think it’s a possibility.

Thanks for all your kind responses and I pray that he is found soon and this is solved so that all the people hurting can start healing their families. And I pray that if someone is responsible (literally responsible not they said something unkind) I pray that justice is served.

 

[Flight154]

I honestly think that it would benefit Chance the most if everyone quit trying to place blame, and actually find him to bring him home.

If the energy spent aggressively going after people and so forth could be focused on finding him, maybe hed be home by now. Who knows, jmo.

Where he is and how he got there........ to me at this moment, are no where near as important as locating him.

God Bless You Chance

 

[kelsie]

Chance was under a LOT of stress when he went missing, as @EricaL pointed out. Maybe the argument with B's family was enough to push him over the edge and perhaps he had some sort of mental break or suicidal ideation.

But, the evidence that points away from that is him calling his friend for a ride.

He also may have been pretty intoxicated at the time. If I recall correctly, he had been drinking throughout the day with B's family at the golf course.

There's water nearby. Water + drinking + walking, add in some anger and maybe not paying super close attention to your surroundings, and viola... you have a perfect example of what we see on WS time and time again with drunk young men succumbing to bodies of water.

I don't know, obviously. This is all just me thinking out loud. I wish Chance would come home to his family.

ETA: I think Chance's wife comes off pretty uncaring, yes. Doesn't mean she killed her husband. Reminds me of the Amanda Knox situation, and I read a great book by Malcolm Gladwell that partially discussed Amanda. We expect people to react in certain ways, and when they don't, we think they are guilty of something - even with a lack of evidence.

 

[PommyMommy]

I honestly think that it would benefit Chance the most if everyone quit trying to place blame, and actually find him to bring him home.

If the energy spent aggressively going after people and so forth could be focused on finding him, maybe hed be home by now. Who knows, jmo.

Where he is and how he got there........ to me at this moment, are no where near as important as locating him.

God Bless You Chance

Agree. His wife, family, and friends have all been thoroughly questioned by LE. They don't need a member of the general public - not in LE, not a PI - knocking on his door, filming his home, and harassing his wife. I don't blame Bailey at all for being upset as she had already told this person TWICE over the phone that she didn't want to do an interview.

Chance wanted to go home. He had a new job waiting for him there and he called a friend for a ride. He didn't want to die and he didn't head out on the spur of the moment to a remote island somewhere to begin a new life. He.wanted.to.go.home. MOO

 

[Flight154]

Bumping for Chance

 

[MyBelle]

Agree. His wife, family, and friends have all been thoroughly questioned by LE. They don't need a member of the general public - not in LE, not a PI - knocking on his door, filming his home, and harassing his wife. I don't blame Bailey at all for being upset as she had already told this person TWICE over the phone that she didn't want to do an interview.

Chance wanted to go home. He had a new job waiting for him there and he called a friend for a ride. He didn't want to die and he didn't head out on the spur of the moment to a remote island somewhere to begin a new life. He.wanted.to.go.home. MOO

I thought the wife and her family immediately lawyered up? If so, that is going to immediately arouse suspicion, especially in a small community. If Bailey didn't want to do the interview, she shouldn't have answered the door and started yelling and screaming at the person.

There was quite a search for Chance. In drowning accidents or suicides, bodies are often discovered but in cases of murder, bodies thrown in rivers often aren't discovered because the killer goes to great lengths to make sure it isn't discovered. Drowning homicides are also very difficult to prove and it takes a long time to build a case.

JMO

In the days after Englebert’s disappearance, officers and volunteers from 18 agencies were involved in ground searches, combing 2,400 acres. Air Link and the Nebraska State Patrol covered 380 miles by air. Sonar and a K9 were used to search 10 lakes and ponds, in addition to the river, riverfront property and irrigation ditches and canals. Those efforts also involved draining the Central Gering Canal to a very low flow rate so it could be searched.

Gering Police share update on missing man Chance Englebert investigation

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-new...rove-these-investigators-want-change-n1011911

 

[PommyMommy]

I thought the wife and her family immediately lawyered up? If so, that is going to immediately arouse suspicion, especially in a small community. If Bailey didn't want to do the interview, she shouldn't have answered the door and started yelling and screaming at the person.

There was quite a search for Chance. In drowning accidents or suicides, bodies are often discovered but in cases of murder, bodies thrown in rivers often aren't discovered because the killer goes to great lengths to make sure it isn't discovered. Drowning homicides are also very difficult to prove and it takes a long time to build a case.

JMO

In the days after Englebert’s disappearance, officers and volunteers from 18 agencies were involved in ground searches, combing 2,400 acres. Air Link and the Nebraska State Patrol covered 380 miles by air. Sonar and a K9 were used to search 10 lakes and ponds, in addition to the river, riverfront property and irrigation ditches and canals. Those efforts also involved draining the Central Gering Canal to a very low flow rate so it could be searched.

Gering Police share update on missing man Chance Englebert investigation

Drowning is one of the hardest homicides to prove. These investigators want to change that.

Bailey told the Nosy Nellie that she didn't want to give an interview. She told her TWICE over the phone. Did you watch the videos? There are more than one. Bailey didn't answer the door - she called the police. When the officer arrived, then she came out.

If I tell you TWICE that I am not interested in speaking to you and you show up at my door, you can expect me to be PISSED OFF. Do not come to my property after I have told you TWICE that I am not interested in speaking to you. MOO

 

[rosesfromangels]

Bailey told the Nosy Nellie that she didn't want to give an interview. She told her TWICE over the phone. Did you watch the videos? There are more than one. Bailey didn't answer the door - she called the police. When the officer arrived, then she came out.

If I tell you TWICE that I am not interested in speaking to you and you show up at my door, you can expect me to be PISSED OFF. Do not come to my property after I have told you TWICE that I am not interested in speaking to you. MOO

It’s not a safe thing to do either.
I’m sure Chance’s wife has had a lot of unwanted comments and anger directed at her. It is best to let LE interact with her.

I do want to give kudos to the justice seeker, however, as she did an excellent interview with Chance’s friend Matt, and has helped keep this case front and center.

amateur opinion and speculation

 

[CluelessWonder]

I'm a reporter. It's my job to interview people. Sometimes, they don't want to be interviewed. But it's still my job to try to interview them. Reporters are persistent because they have to be. I've had people say they didn't want to be interviewed about a parade or ask me not to use their names in a story about Veteran's Day. I'm never surprised when people are standoffish. But it's a little surprising when a wife is that way. My guess is that she believes the reporter is pointing a finger at her. But I didn't hear anything in the video that I watched to indicate that anyone thinks the wife is anything more than a victim.

 

[K9Enzo]

Bailey granted an interview to Marissa Jones from The Vanished podcast. IMO, Marissa is very fair in her interviews. She does not take sides and presented both families point of view on Chance's disappearance.

IIRC, Bailey's family got an attorney to encourage LE to work "faster & harder" in Chance's case (according to Chance's mom statement in the podcast).

I'm still of the opinion this is not foul play.

IMO, it only matters that Bailey has/is cooperating with LE.

As far as anyone else, she can tell them to pound salt if she doesn't want to speak to them.

 

[Flight154]

I'm a reporter. It's my job to interview people. Sometimes, they don't want to be interviewed. But it's still my job to try to interview them. Reporters are persistent because they have to be. I've had people say they didn't want to be interviewed about a parade or ask me not to use their names in a story about Veteran's Day. I'm never surprised when people are standoffish. But it's a little surprising when a wife is that way. My guess is that she believes the reporter is pointing a finger at her. But I didn't hear anything in the video that I watched to indicate that anyone thinks the wife is anything more than a victim.

Yes you are a reporter, but no you arent Bailey. You know what it's like to want to answer questions, but you have no idea what it's like to walk a mile in her shoes, or even down the driveway for that matter.

Just saying, some times until you are in that very specific position, you will never know what it's like to be her. Maybe then you'd understand why she did not feel the need to talk to another reporter...

 

[cujenn81]

Bailey granted an interview to Marissa Jones from The Vanished podcast. IMO, Marissa is very fair in her interviews. She does not take sides and presented both families point of view on Chance's disappearance.

IIRC, Bailey's family got an attorney to encourage LE to work "faster & harder" in Chance's case (according to Chance's mom statement in the podcast).

I'm still of the opinion this is not foul play.

IMO, it only matters that Bailey has/is cooperating with LE.

As far as anyone else, she can tell them to pound salt if she doesn't want to speak to them.

While I totally agree that The Vanished is an unbiased and fair podcast... I don’t really think the episode content can be considered “interviews”. Not in the truest sense of the word, anyway. You never hear Marissa asking questions; you only hear the answers and/or explanations given in complete sentences. (For example: if the person is asked what she believes happened, she answers by saying “I believe... XYZ happened” rather than just saying “XYZ”.) The information being presented in this format leads me to believe the questions and prompts are provided to the guest in writing, they then call into the podcast and share their stories and answers via a recording... similar to leaving a message on an answering machine or voicemail. Not that it matters all that much or takes away from the podcast at all (because it’s actually one of my favorites) BUT I do think a lot of people would be more comfortable sharing things this way versus being interviewed by an actual person who can ask them follow up questions or ask them to expand on a particular aspect of their story right then and there. Again, I don’t know if this is actually how the podcast is recorded and produced. JMO and all that...

 

[K9Enzo]

I’m almost certain Marissa’s voice is just edited out. She’s absolutely having a conversation with her guests. IMO

 

[EricaL]

I thought the wife and her family immediately lawyered up? If so, that is going to immediately arouse suspicion, especially in a small community. If Bailey didn't want to do the interview, she shouldn't have answered the door and started yelling and screaming at the person.

There was quite a search for Chance. In drowning accidents or suicides, bodies are often discovered but in cases of murder, bodies thrown in rivers often aren't discovered because the killer goes to great lengths to make sure it isn't discovered. Drowning homicides are also very difficult to prove and it takes a long time to build a case.

JMO

In the days after Englebert’s disappearance, officers and volunteers from 18 agencies were involved in ground searches, combing 2,400 acres. Air Link and the Nebraska State Patrol covered 380 miles by air. Sonar and a K9 were used to search 10 lakes and ponds, in addition to the river, riverfront property and irrigation ditches and canals. Those efforts also involved draining the Central Gering Canal to a very low flow rate so it could be searched.

Gering Police share update on missing man Chance Englebert investigation

Drowning is one of the hardest homicides to prove. These investigators want to change that.

I love the quote that you used and I love that you are highlighting the tireless effort that has been put in through so many police and volunteer searchers.

I’ve read both of these articles a couple of times, and I loved the first (Gering Courier) one it’s a well-written accurate summary of the case, and I highly recommend it to anyone who wants a summary of the case. It also had a few things that I didn’t know (like that the FBI will not get involved because there is no evidence of a crime), which I really appreciate getting those nuggets of information in articles. She also mentioned the time and searches that the local police have done and it’s a tremendous amount of work. I also like that she mentioned that the police have said no signs of foul play have been uncovered and they don’t believe it’s a crime. I can also see why this is such a frustrating case for everyone involved. Because why isn’t he found!!! It’s frustrating!

The second article about the difficulty of dividing forced drownings from accidental drownings was interesting, but I can’t wrap my mind around why it’s applicable to this case. For one thing, the conditions of rapidly rising waters would be unprecedented for a forced drowning. Second, the article cites exclusively women and children victims probably because the power that a perpetrator would need to hold someone under water would be significantly stronger than your victim; therefore, only smaller/weaker victims are targeted. Also, the conditions that these forced drownings take place are either baths or pools, and no natural water sources are cited in the article.

Next, can you explain your point that forced drowning victims are less likely to be discovered. How? I don’t understand. How can people conceal the bodies of forced drowning victims?

Last, I disagree that Bailee did the wrong thing. When she yells back at the reporter, you can see her personality, and she is a fiery young woman, and isn’t going to stand there and have accusations hurled at her. And why should she? I can really see why Chance loved her, and his mother has issues with her. She’s not going to be railroaded. She’s not going to be co-dependent. She’s not going to be parented. She’s a firecracker.

She yells, “I don’t have time for your bull**** today.” And then proceeded to load up her car.

Moreover, if a reporter cannot be professional (neutral and objective), they are doing more harm than good by spurring on gossip.

 

[bykerladi]

Nothing explains why Bailee ran to court to declare her husband dead.