Deceased/Not Found WV - Christopher Palmer, 39, missing with dog Zoey, last contact 1/9, headed to Monongahela Forest, truck found abandoned in Buxton NC 1/12 2026

[bdawk20]

https://amp.newsobserver.com/news/state/north-carolina/article314384006.html

Relatives noted in a Jan. 19 Facebook post that Palmer and his dog Zoey were camping at various national parks in the region, and they had been at Washington National Forest in Virginia until Jan. 7. He was next expected to visit Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia, relatives say. However, family members were notified on Jan. 18 that Palmer’s truck had been found near Buxton “in the opposite direction he was headed”.

 

[bdawk20]

I vacation in Buxton every year, and came across Chris's story in some groups I follow. While it’s possible he drove the truck to NC himself, he’d been camping in different area since 12/8 and was in contact and so g what he said until the truck was found 7 hours from where he said he’d be abandoned ON the beach. Buxton is at the end of Hatteras Island - you’d either have to go back the way you drove in to get out. No known sighting of he or the dog where the truck was found.

 

[GraceG]

His Aunt (JRHW) has updated his missing poster on her page to what personal items were left in the vehicle and what was missing.

 

[Jessicaleanne1992]

The fact that video was sent from
His phone but he said he could talk because he didn’t have enough signal is very concerning. If a video can be sent it would seem he had reception. Was he seen or heard in the video I wonder? Or could someone else have had is phone.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

The AWARE Foundation

@aware_the

NEWS RELEASE: National Park Service Seeks Public’s Help to Locate Missing PersonThe National Park Service is seeking information from the public to assist in locating Chris Palmer, 39, who has been reported missing.Palmer is described as Caucasian, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, with blue eyes and strawberry-blond hair. He was last in contact with family members on Jan. 9, 2026.On Jan. 12, 2026, National Park Service rangers located Palmer’s red 2017 Ford F-250 stuck on the beach at Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The vehicle remained unclaimed, and Arkansas authorities officially declared Palmer a missing person on Jan. 16, 2026.Palmer is believed to be traveling with his German shepherd and may still be in the area. While no additional details are available at this time, information from visitors can be critical to ongoing investigative efforts. Anyone who was in the Cape Point area on the evening of Jan. 11, 2026, or who may have information related to Palmer’s whereabouts, is encouraged to come forward.How to Submit Information•Call: NPS Tip Line at 888-653-0009•Online: http://go.nps.gov/SubmitATip•Email: [email protected]•Emergency: Call 9-1-1NPS Investigative Services BranchPhoto of Chris Palmer kneeling next to his dog.#TheAWAREFoundationInc

 

[starlightstarbright]

The location of the truck being found in Buxton is very odd. If, let’s just say, someone stole the truck from a location in the national forest at the trailhead where he’d parked it and took it on a joyride before abandoning it. Why the hell would they take it 6 hours and 45 minutes away? That’s a lot of gas to buy and a lot of cameras to be caught on.

And Buxton is not an easy place to get to! I have family who live in Hatteras. It’s a real pain. And if they took the truck and dumped it there (not at all inconspicuously), how the heck did they get back where they came from? There is no public transport.

I’m actually quite worried about a mental health crisis more than foul play for this one.

 

[GraceG]

I don't see someone stealing the truck, then leaving the gun and the safe but taking the dog bowls and clothes.

 

[swanniee11]

I'm curious to know what shape his truck was in? Was it just stuck in the sand? Were the tires deflated to drive on the sand or full and that is why he got stuck? I agree with @GraceG that if the truck was stolen the gun/safe would be gone as well. I would think the safe had the ammo in it possibly cash. I'm trying to put myself in that situation and if I was going to get help I would take what I would need, food/wallet/dog items, heavier clothes etc. Phone/charger. Were the keys in plain sight or under the seat? I think I would leave the keys behind so a tow truck would have them just in case. IMO Just thinking of options.

 

[dalsglen]

I'm curious to know what shape his truck was in? Was it just stuck in the sand? Were the tires deflated to drive on the sand or full and that is why he got stuck? I agree with @GraceG that if the truck was stolen the gun/safe would be gone as well. I would think the safe had the ammo in it possibly cash. I'm trying to put myself in that situation and if I was going to get help I would take what I would need, food/wallet/dog items, heavier clothes etc. Phone/charger. Were the keys in plain sight or under the seat? I think I would leave the keys behind so a tow truck would have them just in case. IMO Just thinking of options.

There's pics of it on fb. It looks absolutely perfect, sparkling clean and with no damage visible from the angle that they were taken from. It's just sitting there, in the sand.

 

[Southern_Mama]

If it were a mental health crisis, does the place where they found his truck hold some significance to him personally? Why would he take the dog bowls and leave the safe? I would think having the gun for protection, among other things, would be a priority. Whoever took the truck had to know the area to get it where it was and have help to get away from the truck. I am interested to see what camera footage shows. There has to be some on an almost 7 hr drive. He needed the supplies he took, or the person who took them needed them, or they would have been found somewhere. Did they know where he was camping before? I almost wonder if the camping gear and supplies are located at a campsite, and maybe he travelled somewhere to get supplies or something he forgot when he disappeared, which is why the gun was with him, and the dog, and that's why they haven't found camping supplies, clothes, or dog bowls in the truck. Phone info would also go a long way if they tracked locations on it.

 

[Lebowski]

The location of the truck being found in Buxton is very odd. If, let’s just say, someone stole the truck from a location in the national forest at the trailhead where he’d parked it and took it on a joyride before abandoning it. Why the hell would they take it 6 hours and 45 minutes away? That’s a lot of gas to buy and a lot of cameras to be caught on.

And Buxton is not an easy place to get to! I have family who live in Hatteras. It’s a real pain. And if they took the truck and dumped it there (not at all inconspicuously), how the heck did they get back where they came from? There is no public transport.

I’m actually quite worried about a mental health crisis more than foul play for this one.

yeah, the most obvious motive for some stranger-related foul play is to steal the truck. someone who steals a truck (possibly doing something to the MP and his dog in the process), but then just leaves it somewhere instead of keeping it or selling it to a chop shop, etc., looks pretty irrational.

6 hours is long for a joy ride. and presumably a joy ride would end somewhere near where it started, so the thief would not have to find a way home. would be really weird for the joy rider to strand themselves in another state like that.

 

[swanniee11]

@Southern_Mama Welcome to Websleuths. Above missing poster says his camping gear was inside the truck ( left behind)

 

[swanniee11]

There is a "Find Chris Palmer" FB but I can't tell who the admin is. Apparently there is an eye witness that say's they saw him carrying a kayak. Did he have one? It's the first I heard of that. IMO

 

[Southern_Mama]

@Southern_Mama Welcome to Websleuths. Above missing poster says his camping gear was inside the truck ( left behind)

The poster on the original post says they were not in the truck.

 

[Southern_Mama]

The poster on the original post says they were not in the truck.

I'm sorry camping gear was, but clothing, coat, and dog bowls were not. You are correct.

 

[Southern_Mama]

There is a "Find Chris Palmer" FB but I can't tell who the admin is. Apparently there is an eye witness that say's they saw him carrying a kayak. Did he have one? It's the first I heard of that. IMO

I saw that today, and they are thinking he could be on one of the nearby islands. IMO, days without camping gear in the cold and elements would be very harsh. He has clothes but nothing for shelter, and if he kept his family updated on his location, it still seems off.

 

[bdawk20]

They’ve updated the missing poster to say that the truck was seen with a kayak on it, but not there when the truck was found. There was no mention of a kayak earlier, makes me wonder if Chris had a kayak with him? Also says his phone last pinged where the truck was found. This is a strange one…

 

[alexwood]

I vacation in Buxton every year, and came across Chris's story in some groups I follow. While it’s possible he drove the truck to NC himself, he’d been camping in different area since 12/8 and was in contact and so g what he said until the truck was found 7 hours from where he said he’d be abandoned ON the beach. Buxton is at the end of Hatteras Island - you’d either have to go back the way you drove in to get out. No known sighting of he or the dog where the truck was found.

[BBM]
Or take the Ferry to Ocracoke and then ferry on to Swan Quarter?

 

[CityKid]

They’ve updated the missing poster to say that the truck was seen with a kayak on it, but not there when the truck was found. There was no mention of a kayak earlier, makes me wonder if Chris had a kayak with him? Also says his phone last pinged where the truck was found. This is a strange one…
View attachment 638645

MOO Any possibility he changed his route, decided to go to the beach? Go kayaking to the other islands in the area? Was his phone found? Zoey the dog seems to be his good buddy and as a dog lover I can't believe he left her behind; I also find it hard to believe someone would attack a young, strong and fit-looking guy with a German shepherd. This weekend's storm is making me frightened for his and Zoey's survival. MOO

 

[wvredhead]

I hope he didn’t take that kayak out into the water. The current is so much stronger on the OBX than a lot of places. Even on calm days the conditions can change in an instant. The water temperature is in the low-mid 50’s right now (surface temp). You need a neoprene suit this time of year for water sports.