Surveillance Footage Reveals New Clues in Search for Missing Arkansas Man in Dare County

DARE COUNTY, N.C. — The search for a missing Arkansas man has intensified after new surveillance footage revealed that his truck was seen traveling through Dare County days before it was discovered abandoned on a North Carolina beach, according to the National Park Service.

Investigators say 39-year-old Chris Palmer was driving a 2017 red Ford F-250 that appeared on Dare County traffic cameras as early as January 9. The footage provides a clearer timeline of Palmer’s movements and raises new questions about what happened in the days leading up to his disappearance.

Palmer was officially declared missing by Arkansas authorities on January 16, after National Park Service rangers found his truck abandoned on the beach at Cape Hatteras National Seashore on January 12. No signs of Palmer were found at the scene.

A key detail from the surveillance video shows a blue and white kayak in the bed of Palmer’s truck. However, when rangers later located the vehicle on the beach, the kayak was no longer there. Officials say the missing kayak could be a critical clue, suggesting Palmer may have entered the water or continued traveling by kayak after leaving the truck behind.

Cell phone data has further complicated the case. Investigators report that Palmer’s phone was detected near Avon on the evening of January 10, followed by another signal near Cape Point in Buxton on January 11. Visitor reports also indicate the truck was seen on the beach on January 11, aligning with the phone location data.

Authorities believe Palmer may have been traveling with his German Shepherd, though neither Palmer nor the dog has been located. Officials have not ruled out the possibility that he may still be somewhere within Dare County or the surrounding areas.

Chris Palmer is described as approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, with blue eyes and strawberry-blonde hair. According to officials, he last spoke with his family on January 9, the same day his truck was first seen in the area.

The National Park Service continues to coordinate with local and state agencies as the search expands along coastal areas and inland locations. Rangers urge the public to remain alert and report any sightings of Palmer, his missing kayak, or his dog.

Anyone with information related to Palmer’s whereabouts is asked to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch at 888-653-0009, or submit a tip through the agency’s official reporting channels.

As days pass without answers, each new image, phone signal, and eyewitness account represents a potential breakthrough. For Palmer’s family, the hope remains that these clues will soon lead to clarity — and to their loved one.