Account
Apr 03, 2025
Apr 15, 2025
Justin
Baker
41
41
73 inches
248 lbs
American Indian / Alaska Native
Male
In the early morning hours of January 24, 2025, the life of 41-year-old Justin Dwayne Baker, a resident of Muldrow, Oklahoma, took an unforeseen and tragic turn. A former combat veteran and a devoted father, Justin was last seen leaving a bar in Fort Smith, Arkansas, with two acquaintances. Instead of heading home, the group went on a drive to Muldrow Bottoms, a local area known for off-roading. There, in the darkness, the vehicle plunged into the frigid waters of the Arkansas River. While the two other occupants managed to escape the submerged vehicle and swim to the shore, Justin did not surface and has not been seen or heard from since. The days and weeks that followed Justin's disappearance were marked by intensive search and rescue operations. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol, along with their marine division and search and rescue dogs, the Fort Smith and Arkoma Fire Departments, and the Cherokee Nation Marshals, all took part in the extensive search. The vehicle was recovered from the river, but there was no trace of Justin. His family, including his mother, Kelly Cox, has been a constant presence at the search sites, holding onto hope for his return. Community members and volunteer organizations also joined the efforts, utilizing sonar technology and conducting dives in the river to aid in the search for the missing Army veteran and citizen of the Cherokee Nation. As months have passed without any sign of Justin, his case remains an active and ongoing investigation. His family and advocacy groups, such as Northeastern Oklahoma Indigenous Safety & Education (NOISE), have continued to push for public awareness and have urged that the case be turned over to the FBI, citing the fact that Justin was last seen in Arkansas before the incident in Oklahoma. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is assisting with the investigation into what they have termed a suspicious disappearance. The family continues to plead for any information that could lead to finding Justin, as the uncertainty surrounding his fate weighs heavily on them and the community. The case is an overview of a night that began with friends at a bar and ended in a mysterious and heartbreaking disappearance in the Arkansas River, leaving a family desperate for answers and a community hoping for closure.
Jan 24, 2025
Muldrow
Oklahoma
Sequoyah County
Muldrow
Yes
166616
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation - Southeast Investigative Regional Office
McAlester
Oklahoma
Pittsburg County
74501
701 W. Carl Albert Parkway McAlester, OK 74501, Oklahoma
5802985525
State
Law Enforcement
OSBI2025-179
Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation - Southeast Investigative Regional Office
9404
Brown
Blue
Blue
06/19/2026
