TX TX - Gary "PJ" Marcantel, Jr., 38, missing after calling 911 to get help with his car, found on Hwy 207, Armstrong County, 18 Jan 2025

[STLBlues]

Search continues for missing Oberlin man who had car trouble in freezing rural Texas

The search continues for an Oberlin man who vanished after getting a flat tire while driving in a remote area in freezing weather.

www.kplctv.com

•He called 911 at 10:46 a.m. from near the Palo Duro Canyon, southeast of Amarillo.
•When Marcantel spoke to dispatchers, he had been walking in the cold for four and a half hours and had a hard time describing his location, Anderson said.
•Law enforcement was unable to ping his phone due to the remote location.
•He did not walk away from his car under duress or by force.
•there is no evidence of foul play.
•Marcantel is believed to have taken his keys and a golf club with him

RBBM - Had been walking for four and a half hours before calling 911? I thought is was common knowledge when you are lost to remain in place (as opposed to wandering around), especially if you're with a vehicle.

 

[Tutter]

RBBM - Had been walking for four and a half hours before calling 911? I thought is was common knowledge when you are lost to remain in place (as opposed to wandering around), especially if you're with a vehicle.

Yes staying with the car makes the most sense. Maybe he walked to get cell service if it was so rural. He may have called as soon as he could

 

[shoogyb]

Yes staying with the car makes the most sense. Maybe he walked to get cell service if it was so rural. He may have called as soon as he could

Even with it being rural, i personally would hedge my bets on someone eventually coming along rather than trying to walk anywhere in the snow. Especially since it has been stated he had a flat tire and not engine trouble. He could've kept his heat running and stayed warm for quite some time since we know he had somewhat recently filled up and his particular kind of car generally gets pretty good fuel economy.

 

[Laffy Taffy]

Has anyone heard if his heater was working in his car?
It’s been reported he took a golf club and his keys but wonder if he layered on extra clothes before deciding to walk?
His girlfriend posted a video of him leaving in what appears to be a dodge car. Or camero. Yet was driving a Toyota camery?

 

[GuyfromCanada]

FEB 3

*As of 02/03/2025 at 11:30am, there are no new developments in this missing person case*

Gary Joseph “PJ” Marcantel, Jr., age 38 from Louisiana, was traveling on US Hwy 287 on his way to Denver, Colorado on January 18, 2025.

As he drove through Claude, Texas in the early morning hours, he made a turn onto State Hwy 207 Southbound for an unknown reason.

Law enforcement found his vehicle, a gray Toyota Camry with a flat tire, parked on the West (right) side of Hwy 207 approximately 18 miles South of Claude in the canyon area. PJ was not with his vehicle.

The Armstrong County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from PJ asking for assistance at 10:46am on January 18th.
PJ had extreme difficulty describing his location, and it was apparent he had been exposed to the weather elements that morning (cold temps and wind chill). Due to the remoteness of his location, it was impossible to ping his phone at that time.

PJ was wearing the exact clothing pictured below on the right: a white/green trucker hat, pink Magellan long-sleeved fishing shirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.

We believe PJ may have also been carrying a golf club and the keys to the vehicle when he walked away from it.

We know from the 911 call that PJ did not walk away from his vehicle under duress or by force. We do know by the time dispatchers talked to him at 10:46am, he had been exposed to and had been walking in the cold and bad weather for approximately 4.5 hours.

The area and terrain where PJ found himself calling 911 for assistance that day are unlike anything anyone is used to seeing, let alone hiking. They call this area “the miniature Grand Canyon” for a reason.

While we do not share all details surrounding this case, there have been countless hours of searching for PJ daily by law enforcement, land owners (this area is the private property side of Palo Duro Canyon), and wonderful groups of volunteers.

The use of SAR resources, dogs, drones, cell phone technology, mapping software, horses, mules, helicopters, personal and work vehicles, UTV’s/ 4-wheelers, professional trackers, and the countless hours of boots on the ground searches have proven the dedication to finding answers for PJ’s family.

I ask this: if you saw PJ or spoke to him at any time from the evening hours of January 17th to the early morning hours of January 18th, 2025, please call the Armstrong County Sheriff’s Office and ask to speak to the Sheriff directly at 806-553-6933.

~Sheriff Melissa Anderson

https://www.facebook.com/sheriffmanderson/posts/pfbid02pQDRw87dFBw4EseHx8dadAKv78gmmg2epSJgQWXU7MHhHshqS2oVhw1AzZq4t5owl

So, PJ had been walking the cold for about 4.5 hours already before making that 911 call .

 

[CHEL]

I'm from Louisiana and have seen nothing about this. Weird.

 

[jellybean96]

Im curious why they haven't released the 911 call??

 

[jellybean96]

I'm from Louisiana and have seen nothing about this. Weird.

My family in Lake Charles (close to where he was from) hadn't heard anything either.

 

[Bigditch]

Why take a golf club?

 

[tarabull]

Why take a golf club?

Maybe it was expensive... Or he needed a weapon ???

 

[MAHBOOBOO]

Also could have taken the golf club to use as a walking stick in the snow, so that if there were any curbs or rocks under the snow he couldn't see, the club would hit them before he'd trip on them. But I also agree that I'd take one as a weapon to use against feral hogs, stray dogs & mountain lions.

 

[Teche]

Being a veteran, PJ must have a weapon for protection. I'm from Louisiana and numerous people travel with handguns. The golf club could serve as a walking stick and a weapon.

 

[meanmaryjean]

No word on what was wrong with the car? If I had vehicle issues I I would call for a tow truck. Unless my car was damaged due to a road rage incident… then I would call 911.

I suspect the 911 call was because he didn't know where he was. If you don’t know where you are you.can hardly.call a tow truck to come get you.

 

[sunspun]

PJ was wearing the exact clothing pictured below on the right: a white/green trucker hat, pink Magellan long-sleeved fishing shirt, blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.

Is she saying he didn't have a coat on at all? And he walked over 4 hrs in freezing temperatures like that? Maybe I missed something, because I would expect anyone to be hypothermic then with no coat or jacket even.

Wonder how they're so certain he took a golf club with him. Maybe he used it as a walking stick as he left the car and they saw imprints.

 

[SimplyCass]

Is she saying he didn't have a coat on at all? And he walked over 4 hrs in freezing temperatures like that? Maybe I missed something, because I would expect anyone to be hypothermic then with no coat or jacket even.

Wonder how they're so certain he took a golf club with him. Maybe he used it as a walking stick as he left the car and they saw imprints.

Possibly, but I think it's more likely that PJ mentioned it on the 911 call. I can imagine the operator saying...it's dangerous out there! And PJ saying "I grabbed a golf club to use as a walking stick."

I am somewhat puzzled that he walked for four hours. Is cell phone service that nonexistent there? Why didn't he stay with his car? I assume something happened. But if anyone could do that (walk hours like that), it would be a veteran.

 

[TMich6811]

knowing he’s a veteran I wonder if this was a ptsd episode. Also possibly why they didn’t want other searchers

 

[mlhenn]

Unable to find an update.

 

[jellybean96]

Unable to find an update.

I’m local - there hasn’t been an update in forever.

 

[GraceG]

This may be him, name, age, and address match. I couldn't find the outcome of the charges as the Clerk in St. Landry Parish charges $20 for a day pass to view records.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office Official Facebook Page St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office
July 11, 2024
Gary Joseph Marcantel, Jr., W/M, age 37, 516 Taylor Lane, Oberlin, LA., 70655, Fraudulent firearm and ammunition purchase. Arrested by St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.

2018 Louisiana Laws :: Revised Statutes :: TITLE 14 - Criminal Law :: RS 14:95.1.3 - Fraudulent firearm and ammunition purchase

Justia Free Databases of U.S. Laws, Codes & Statutes

law.justia.com

 

[Bigditch]

This may be him, name, age, and address match. I couldn't find the outcome of the charges as the Clerk in St. Landry Parish charges $20 for a day pass to view records.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office Official Facebook Page St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office
July 11, 2024
Gary Joseph Marcantel, Jr., W/M, age 37, 516 Taylor Lane, Oberlin, LA., 70655, Fraudulent firearm and ammunition purchase. Arrested by St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office.

2018 Louisiana Laws :: Revised Statutes :: TITLE 14 - Criminal Law :: RS 14:95.1.3 - Fraudulent firearm and ammunition purchase

Justia Free Databases of U.S. Laws, Codes & Statutes

law.justia.com

Very interesting.
Thanks GraceG