Buzz
Every day, numerous individuals vanish, and while most cases are resolved quickly, many families are left without answers, never experiencing closure or discovering the fate of their loved ones.
When someone disappears without explanation, their last words often linger in the memories of those who knew them. These final statements can range from eerie and emotional to seemingly ordinary. They might provide unsettling clues about their disappearance or appear entirely unrelated to what followed. Below are ten stories of individuals who vanished, along with their final words to 911 operators, colleagues, friends, or family.
10. ‘They’re After Me. More Than One.’
On the evening of April 20, 2019, Michael “Mike” McClain was at the Tropical Lounge nightclub in Nashua, New Hampshire. The 29-year-old Manchester resident was enjoying time with friends and had no apparent reason to leave his life behind.
That evening, a conflict arose between two women at the club. They moved outside, where the situation intensified, drawing a crowd. Mike, who knew one of the women, intervened to stop the fight. Police arrived, dispersed the crowd, and it was then that Mike’s friends lost sight of him. Shortly before 2:00 AM, Mike called his boss, saying, “They’re after me. More than one.” Concerned, she tried calling back, but there was no response. Mike has not been seen since.
Mike’s family grew worried when he missed calls on Easter and failed to wish his sister a happy birthday. Investigators believe he left the nightclub on foot. His phone was last traced to a McDonald’s near the Tropical Lounge around the time of his call to his boss. Since then, there have been no transactions on his credit cards or activity on his social media. As of now, his disappearance remains unsolved.
9. ‘I’m Putting Dinner On.’
Will Cierzan, 58, a dedicated employee at Six Flags Magic Mountain, enjoyed sports, collecting Coca-Cola bottles, and cooking. On January 26, 2017, he spent the afternoon at his Santa Clarita home watching golf with his nephew. After his nephew left, Will started preparing dinner. Around 4:30 PM, his wife, Linda, called, and Will mentioned, “I’m putting dinner on.” By 5:00 PM, he sounded cheerful and confirmed the chicken was ready.
However, when Linda returned home around 6:00 PM, Will was gone. The dinner was prepared, the oven was off, and his coat, keys, and wallet were all in place. Nothing was missing from his wallet, the family dog was home, and his truck remained parked outside.
A few mysterious clues surfaced later. In February 2017, it was discovered that traces of Will’s blood were found inside the house. A neighbor’s surveillance footage captured a white SUV backing into Will’s garage shortly after 5:00 PM, leaving just minutes later. Authorities confirmed the vehicle belonged to a relative, but this lead, like others, went nowhere.
In May 2017, detectives identified Will’s nephew as a person of interest. Despite his cooperation with the investigation, no arrests were made. In December 2018, a human skull was discovered near Valencia, Will’s neighborhood. However, it has not been connected to Will’s case and may be unrelated. His disappearance remains unresolved.
8. ‘I’m Scared.’ / ‘Never Mind.’
June 21, 2013, was an eventful day for Brookelyn Farthing from Madison County, Kentucky. The 18-year-old and her younger sister, Paige, took their driver’s license tests that morning. Later, they celebrated their grandfather’s 70th birthday. That evening, Brookelyn, Paige, and a cousin attended another birthday party, held in a field.
Paige and the cousin decided to leave the party early, but Brookelyn stayed, planning to spend the night at a friend’s house. However, her friend changed plans, opting to stay at a boy’s house instead. The two argued, and the friend left, leaving Brookelyn alone.
As the party wound down, Brookelyn was observed leaving with two young men (names not disclosed). One was dropped off, while the other drove her to his home in Berea. Around 4:00 AM on June 22, Brookelyn called Paige, asking if their cousin could pick her up. However, the cousin had been drinking and couldn’t drive. Unwilling to trouble her mother, Brookelyn contacted her ex-boyfriend, who worked the night shift. He agreed to take her home after his shift ended. Shortly after, the man who had brought her to the house left.
Soon after, Brookelyn’s ex-boyfriend received a series of texts from her:
“Can you hurry,” “Please hurry,” followed by “I’m scared.” However, another message arrived, saying “never mind” and that Brookelyn was heading to a party in nearby Rockcastle County, close to Berea. When he asked who she was with, she didn’t respond. Brookelyn has not been heard from since.
The homeowner returned later to find the house ablaze. Firefighters discovered some of Brookelyn’s belongings inside. The man suggested the fire might have been caused by a cigarette she was smoking when he left. He explained he left because he was friends with her ex-boyfriend and felt uneasy staying. He also confirmed Brookelyn had mentioned a party in Rockcastle County. Her disappearance remains unsolved, and no arrests have been made.
7. ‘I’ll Call You Back.’
Marion Barter, a primary school teacher from Australia’s Gold Coast, led a seemingly ordinary and content life. However, after her third marriage ended in the mid-1990s, things took a turn. In 1997, she suddenly sold her house and embarked on a trip to England.
Her family didn’t hear from her until July 31, when a message from Marion appeared on her daughter Sally Leydon’s answering machine. Marion later called from a payphone, mentioning she was in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, enjoying tea and scones with some elderly women and having a wonderful time. The call was fragmented as Marion had to keep adding coins to the phone. Eventually, she ran out of money and ended the call with, “I’ll call you back.” Marion, then 51, has not been seen or heard from since.
Sally is convinced her mother was in England, given the call delays. The mystery deepened in October 1997 when large sums were withdrawn from Marion’s bank account. A bank employee informed Sally the withdrawals occurred in Byron Bay, New South Wales. Despite investigations, police found no trace of Marion there.
Marion’s whereabouts remain unknown.
6. ‘Can You Send Me A Picture Of My Son In The Movies?’
At 9:30 PM on July 13, 2019, Erika Gaytan from El Paso, Texas, texted the father of her seven-year-old son: “Can you send me a picture of my son in the movies?” Erika, 29, was at a concert at the El Paso County Coliseum, making the request seem ordinary. However, her family and friends find it impossible to believe she would ever abandon her son willingly.
Erika attended the concert with a date, and her presence was confirmed through social media posts. According to her date, she was waiting for an Uber after the concert ended. He left at that point, leaving her alone.
At the time of her disappearance, Erika was dealing with criminal charges for credit card abuse and criminal mischief. Her next court appearance was scheduled for July 26. However, El Paso detectives do not think this is connected to her vanishing. They consider her disappearance suspicious and urge anyone with information to contact them.
5. ‘I Love You, Pop.’
Chase Allen Lackey, 25, played in a recreational softball league. On June 30, 2017, his father, Craig, watched him play a game. Craig will always remember Chase’s final words to him that day: “I love you, Pop.”
The following day, Chase was spotted walking his dog near his Houston-area apartment. Neither he nor his dog has been seen since. His apartment was undisturbed, with nothing missing, and his truck remained parked as usual.
While investigators described Chase as leading “a normal life,” they suspect foul play in his disappearance. Few specifics have been disclosed, but it appears some of Chase’s friends were involved in illegal activities. Despite this, no arrests have been made, and two years later, both Chase and his dog are still missing.
4. ‘I Just Want To Talk While I Have The Chance.’
In the summer of 2018, Matthew Weaver moved from his parents’ home in Simi Valley, California, to his own apartment in Granada Hills, Los Angeles. The 21-year-old power line worker had a bright future ahead, with dreams of traveling the world. Unfortunately, those dreams may never be realized.
On August 9, Matthew informed his father he was meeting a new female acquaintance. He picked her up around 9:30 PM and dropped her off in the early hours of August 10. They reportedly had a private conversation. Matthew then drove to Topanga, an area in the Santa Monica Mountains. Near sunrise, he shared a scenic Snapchat photo and is believed to have entered a hiking trail. Hours later, his female friend received cryptic texts: “Like some crazy is going onsh— is going on” and “I jusst to talk while i have the chance.” There was no further contact from Matthew.
Matthew’s final known location, based on Snapchat and cell phone data, was near Rosas Outlook. Around 1:30 AM on August 11, hikers in the area called 911 after hearing cries for help. Around the same time, California Highway Patrol officers reportedly heard screams and possibly someone shouting, “He’s got a gun!” Matthew’s car was discovered near a hiking trail, but the keys weren’t found until January 2019, when hikers located them just 25 feet (7.6 m) from the car. That same month, high-resolution drone images helped Matthew’s family identify a baseball cap and a torn T-shirt they believe belonged to him. Despite these puzzling clues, Matthew’s whereabouts remain unknown.
3. ‘No, I Need The Cops.’
In 2013, Brandon Lawson, 26, lived in San Angelo, Texas, with his longtime girlfriend and their four children. The oil field worker had secured a new, more stable job with better hours and was set to start soon. However, on the night of August 7, Brandon didn’t return home. This led to an argument with his girlfriend, Ladessa, on August 8. Brandon had struggled with drug issues in the past and had recently relapsed, making his absence concerning. Around 11:53 PM, Brandon took his cell phone, charger, keys, and wallet and left. His pickup truck was nearly out of gas.
Soon after, Brandon called his father, Brad, asking to stay with him for the night. Brad agreed but suggested Brandon return home and reconcile with Ladessa, as Brad lived three hours away in Crowley. Minutes later, Ladessa called Brandon, advising him to stay with his brother, Kyle, if he was still upset. Kyle lived just five minutes away. When Brandon didn’t respond, Ladessa called Kyle, expressing concern for Brandon’s well-being.
At 12:34 and 12:36 AM, Brandon attempted to call Ladessa, but she didn’t answer. At 12:38, he called Kyle, explaining he had run out of gas on Highway 277 near Bronte. Kyle contacted Ladessa, who left a gas can on the porch for him before taking a bath. Kyle and his girlfriend, Audrey, left to retrieve the gas can at 12:45. At 12:48, Brandon tried calling Ladessa again but received no response.
At 12:54 AM, Brandon made a disturbing 911 call. Parts of the 43-second call were unclear. Brandon mentioned running out of gas and being in a field. He said he “accidentally ran into” some people, followed by background noise that might have been gunshots. The operator asked if he needed an ambulance. Amid unclear background sounds, Brandon initially said yes but then changed his mind, stating, “No, I need the cops.” Brandon didn’t respond further, though the unidentified noise seemed to grow closer before the call ended.
Four minutes later, a trucker noticed Brandon’s pickup truck parked oddly on the highway and reported it to 911. At 1:10 AM, Kyle and Audrey arrived at the truck, surprised to find a Coke County sheriff’s deputy already there. The truck was undamaged. Assuming Brandon was hiding in the field due to an outstanding warrant, Kyle and Audrey discreetly called him. Brandon answered, saying he was ten minutes into the field, bleeding, and urged his brother to hurry. The call ended abruptly, and Brandon didn’t respond to further attempts to contact him.
Multiple searches for Brandon turned up nothing. His bank account and cell phone showed no activity after that night. Months later, investigators considered Kyle a suspect and questioned him. Kyle willingly took a polygraph test, which he passed. Brandon’s disappearance remains unsolved.
2. ‘Things Are Going To Get Better.’
Olivia Medel didn’t have much, but she had her two children, Enrique and Delfina. The single mother worked tirelessly to support them, and life was stable until Olivia lost her job. Forced to move from Kansas City, Missouri, back to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where the children were born, Olivia eventually found work. However, Enrique began associating with the wrong crowd, complicating their lives further.
It began when Enrique, then 13, started spending time with a teenager named Andy, who was about six years older. Olivia had concerns about Andy, but with her return to work, she couldn’t monitor her son constantly. Enrique would sometimes vanish overnight. Eventually, he was expelled from school for carrying a gun, which Olivia believes was Andy’s influence.
On March 16, 2011, Enrique, now 14, spoke to his mother. He said, “Mom, I know you’re going through a tough time, but things are going to get better.” That was the last time Olivia saw her son. Enrique’s uncle saw him that night outside an Allsup’s convenience store. The uncle urged Enrique to go home, but Enrique insisted he was staying with friends. He stopped answering his phone that night and hasn’t been seen since.
Olivia felt the police dismissed her concerns when she reported Enrique missing, treating him as a runaway. Investigators eventually questioned Andy multiple times. The suspicious teen provided inconsistent statements and was found with some of Enrique’s belongings. Despite this, no arrests have been made, and the case appears to have gone cold.
1. ‘Don’t Ever Say Goodbye.’
In the summer of 2013, Candice L’hommecourt of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, celebrated her daughter’s first birthday. Among the guests was her older sister, 25-year-old Shelly Dene. Shortly after, in August, Shelly disappeared without a trace. Her final words to Candice were, “Don’t ever say goodbye.”
Shelly was known for her adventurous nature and passion for travel, often mentioning a trip to the Yukon. Over the following months, calls and texts to Shelly went unanswered. Concern grew in November when her phone was disconnected.
Shelly was eventually reported missing. A potential clue emerged when a witness reported seeing a man removing suitcases from Shelly’s apartment around the time she disappeared. However, by the end of 2014, police had exhausted all leads.
Candice has voiced her frustration with the police, accusing them of reluctance to investigate Shelly’s case due to her First Nations heritage and perceived “high-risk” lifestyle. While Shelly’s family acknowledges her struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, Candice emphasized:
[Police] label every First Nations person that is missing or murdered [as having] a high-risk lifestyle or a high-risk profile. They keep blaming the victim for what has happened to them. They don’t blame society and what’s wrong with society . . . these things shouldn’t be happening to innocent people, no matter what type of lifestyle they live.
Shelly Dene remains missing.
