Vanished on Thanksgiving: The Unsolved Disappearance of Stephen Meeks from Reidsville

A Quiet Town, a Sudden Disappearance

Reidsville, North Carolina—a small, close-knit community—was the backdrop for a perplexing missing persons case that has remained unsolved for decades. On November 24, 1988, Stephen Victor Meeks, a 32-year-old resident, vanished without a trace. His disappearance has left family, friends, and investigators with more questions than answers, as they continue to seek closure in a case that has grown cold over the years.

The Day Stephen Meeks Disappeared

Thanksgiving Day in 1988 was supposed to be a time for family gatherings and gratitude. However, for the Meeks family, it marked the beginning of a long and painful mystery. Stephen Meeks was reportedly last seen by his wife at approximately 6:00 a.m. at their residence near Route 5 and Box 58H in Reidsville. She told investigators that they had an argument that morning, after which Stephen left their home in his black 1973 Ford F-150 truck, bearing North Carolina license plate CTS7429. He was expected to join his family for Thanksgiving dinner at his mother's house later that day but never arrived. His sister filed a missing persons report on December 4, 1988, after he failed to appear at the family gathering.

Conflicting Accounts from Family Members

While Stephen's wife claimed he left the house that morning, their three children, aged 11, 10, and 8 at the time, provided a different account. They told investigators that their father was not home the previous night when they returned from church with a friend and that they did not see him at all that evening. This discrepancy in timelines added complexity to the investigation, leaving authorities uncertain about the exact circumstances surrounding Stephen's disappearance.

A Troubled Marriage and Custody Battle

Stephen and his wife had a tumultuous relationship. She had filed for divorce in late 1987, but the couple reconciled in the fall of 1988. Despite the reconciliation, tensions remained high, and they were reportedly considering separation again. At the time of his disappearance, Stephen had retained a lawyer and was seeking custody of their children. These personal struggles may have played a role in the events leading up to his vanishing. ...Read More

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