In a chilling twist to an already baffling missing person case, traffic and park cameras have captured dramatic footage of 39-year-old Chris Palmer racing along roads toward his intended camping spot in Cape Hatteras National Seashore. The images show his red 2017 Ford F-250 pickup truck hurtling forward at high speed, its bed overflowing with camping equipment, supplies, and what appears to be a kayak strapped on top. Observers and online investigators quickly noted the sheer volume of gear – tents, coolers, food provisions, clothing layers, and other essentials – leading many to speculate that Palmer had packed enough to sustain himself (and his beloved dog Zoey) for up to a month in the rugged, isolated wilderness of the Outer Banks.

Palmer, an Arkansas resident, last communicated with family on January 9, 2026, sharing his plans for a solo camping and hiking adventure through eastern national parks and seashores. He never returned home, prompting authorities to declare him missing on January 16. Just days earlier, on January 12, National Park Service rangers discovered his truck abandoned and bogged down in deep sand on a remote stretch of beach near Buxton. The vehicle was still equipped with many valuables: keys left in the ignition, a shotgun, a safe, and the bulk of his camping gear remained untouched inside. However, personal items such as clothes, a coat, and dog bowls were conspicuously absent, along with Palmer and Zoey themselves.

The camera footage has only deepened the enigma. It confirms the truck entered Dare County as early as January 9, pulling a kayak and heavily laden, suggesting Palmer was fully committed to an extended off-grid stay. The speed captured on tape implies urgency or determination, yet no signs of foul play have been reported on the vehicle. Search efforts by the National Park Service, local authorities, and volunteers scoured beaches, dunes, and nearby waters for weeks, but no trace of the man or his dog has surfaced.

Family members have since expressed a heartbreaking belief that Palmer may have perished at sea, possibly during an attempted kayak outing from the beach where his truck was found. They have requested an end to active ground searches, citing the dangers of the powerful currents and shifting sands in the area. Some online discussions point to the selective removal of certain belongings as unusual, fueling theories ranging from a planned disappearance to an accident during a water-based excursion. Others highlight Palmer’s reported health challenges, adding layers of tragedy to the story.

As the investigation continues, the haunting highway camera images serve as a stark reminder of how quickly a routine adventure can turn into an unsolved mystery. With the truck’s heavy load hinting at long-term survival plans that never materialized, the question lingers: What really happened to Chris Palmer and Zoey in the wilds of Cape Hatteras?