🚨 MAJOR TWIST THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING: Investigators just uncovered new evidence showing Chris Palmer and Zoey could STILL BE ALIVE in the MOUNTAINS… but his TRUCK and PHONE were STOLEN after he vanished! 😱🚙📱

The truck? Left abandoned on that lonely Buxton beach. The phone? Its recent location pings are now popping up in places that make NO sense—far from the coast, deep in rugged terrain, raising SERIOUS red flags about who has it and why.

Authorities have released details indicating that Christopher Lee Palmer, 39, and his German Shepherd, Zoey, may still be alive and located in mountainous regions, while new evidence points to the theft of Palmer’s truck and mobile phone following his disappearance. The development has shifted aspects of the investigation, with phone location data now generating additional questions amid an already complex missing person case.

Palmer, an experienced outdoorsman from Arkansas, was last known to communicate with family on January 9, 2026. He had been on an extended camping trip, providing updates from stops including the Great Smoky Mountains in December 2025 and plans to proceed to the George Washington National Forest in Virginia and then Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. Despite these intentions, evidence placed him in North Carolina’s Outer Banks region.

On January 12, National Park Service (NPS) rangers discovered Palmer’s red 2017 Ford F-250 truck stuck in sand on a remote beach within Cape Hatteras National Seashore near Buxton, between Ramp 43 and Cape Point. The vehicle contained items such as a shotgun, a safe, and camping gear, but several belongings were missing: Palmer’s winter coat, some clothing, dog food bowls, and any trace of Zoey. A blue-and-white kayak visible in surveillance footage was absent from the truck bed.

Traffic and surveillance cameras captured the truck in Dare County as early as January 9, with the kayak attached, and showed it accessing the beach. Mobile phone records indicated pings near Avon on the evening of January 10 and a final signal near Cape Point in Buxton on January 11, after which the device ceased activity. Palmer was officially declared missing on January 16 by Arkansas authorities.

Search efforts, coordinated by the NPS and supported by volunteers including the United Cajun Navy, focused on Hatteras Island’s beaches, dunes, maritime scrub, and coastal waters. Key discoveries included a small tent hidden in dense vegetation at the last phone ping site, reportedly retaining warmth suggestive of recent use; the abandoned kayak on a remote beach, containing an unspecified unusual item; and Zoey’s rescue from a seaside cliff, where she exhibited strange behavior such as heightened distress and atypical reactions.

Recent investigative findings have introduced the possibility that Palmer and Zoey relocated to mountainous areas, potentially in western North Carolina or nearby states consistent with his initial travel plans. Authorities have indicated that evidence suggests the truck and phone may have been stolen after Palmer’s last known activities in the Outer Banks. The truck was found abandoned and immobilized, but reports of theft imply it—or access to it—may have been compromised post-discovery or during the timeline.

More disturbingly, ongoing analysis of phone location data has revealed pings or activity that deviates from the Buxton area, appearing in mountainous terrain far from the coast. These locations have prompted concerns about unauthorized use of the device, possibly by a third party, or efforts to mislead investigators. No official confirmation has detailed exact coordinates or timestamps of these new pings, but they have contributed to redirecting some search resources toward higher-elevation regions.

The NPS continues to describe the case as a missing person investigation without confirmed evidence of criminal activity, though the reported theft introduces elements that could warrant further law enforcement involvement. Palmer’s survival skills, military background, and familiarity with remote wilderness areas support scenarios where he may have intentionally moved inland, perhaps after an encounter or to avoid perceived threats. His close bond with Zoey and history of responsible communication make prolonged voluntary separation or abandonment unlikely to family members.

Zoey’s rescue provided a significant lead, though her unusual post-rescue behavior—described as wary, avoidant, and indicative of trauma—has not yielded clear directional clues. Veterinary evaluation and potential scent-tracking efforts continue, but no definitive links to Palmer’s current whereabouts have emerged.

The Outer Banks’ coastal environment contrasts sharply with mountainous terrain, raising logistical questions about how Palmer and Zoey might have transitioned between areas. Possible explanations include hitchhiking, alternate transportation, or on-foot travel, though none are confirmed. Winter weather, including approaching cold fronts, has added urgency to searches in both coastal and inland zones.

Family members, including Palmer’s father, have continued public appeals, emphasizing his outdoor expertise and urging assistance from groups like the United Cajun Navy, which has sought aerial support for expanded coverage. Volunteers have conducted ground operations, drone scans, and community outreach in affected areas.

Palmer is described as Caucasian, approximately 5 feet 6 inches tall, with blue eyes and strawberry-blond hair. He was believed to be traveling alone with Zoey, a loyal German Shepherd. The NPS maintains a tip line (888-653-0009) and encourages information from anyone who may have seen Palmer, Zoey, the truck, kayak, or related items after January 11, particularly in mountainous regions or along potential travel routes.

Media coverage has included reports from People magazine, The US Sun, local North Carolina outlets such as Island Free Press, WAVY, WTKR, and nationalparkstraveler.org. Online discussions on Reddit’s r/MissingPersons, Websleuths, and Facebook groups have followed updates closely, with users debating theories ranging from voluntary relocation to theft-related foul play.

The theft of the truck and phone represents a pivotal shift, complicating the timeline and introducing potential third-party involvement. If the phone is in unauthorized hands, its location data could indicate movement unrelated to Palmer, or conversely, provide indirect clues if he retained possession. Investigators are likely examining forensic evidence from recovered items, including the tent, kayak, and Zoey, for fingerprints, DNA, or other traces.

As of the latest updates, no confirmed sightings of Palmer have occurred since early January. Search operations have expanded beyond the immediate Buxton vicinity, incorporating mountainous areas where phone data or other evidence suggests relevance. The case continues to evolve, with authorities balancing the possibility of Palmer surviving in remote wilderness against risks posed by weather, terrain, and any criminal elements suggested by the reported theft.

Public assistance remains critical. The NPS and supporting agencies urge caution in search areas due to hazardous conditions and ask that tips be provided promptly. Whether Palmer and Zoey are intentionally in hiding, displaced by external factors, or victims of circumstances involving theft, the goal remains locating them safely and resolving the questions surrounding this multifaceted disappearance.