Account
Sep 21, 2022
Oct 05, 2022
Gary
Earp
52
45
68 inches
280 lbs
300 lbs
White / Caucasian
Male
In June of 2017, the quiet woods of the Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area in Saltville, Virginia, became the center of a baffling mystery with the disappearance of 45-year-old Gary Shannon Earp. On June 4, 2017, concerned citizens reported a Toyota pickup truck left running and unattended at a gate near the top of the mountain. Responding officers from the Smyth County Sheriff's Office and the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries discovered the truck belonged to Gary Earp, a resident of Tazewell County. Inside the vehicle, they found his wallet containing cash and credit cards, his glasses, and a recently purchased, uneaten breakfast. This discovery marked the beginning of an extensive search and a prolonged period of uncertainty for his loved ones. The timeline leading up to the discovery of Gary's truck reveals a series of seemingly ordinary events that took a perplexing turn. His family had last heard from him on the evening of Thursday, June 1st. Loggers in the area reported seeing him near the end of Tumbling Creek Road on the afternoon of June 1st. Another witness claimed to have seen him in Saltville, the town nearest to the wildlife area, on the morning of June 2nd, noting that he appeared to be behaving normally. A receipt found in his truck indicated he had purchased food in Chilhowie on the night of June 2nd. Despite these sightings, what happened to Gary between that evening and the discovery of his idling truck remains unknown. He was known to enjoy camping in the Tumbling Creek area with his family and had been on a trip there the weekend before he vanished. Despite extensive search efforts involving multiple agencies, including K-9 units, the Virginia State Police, and search and rescue teams, no trace of Gary Earp was found. The search of the rugged terrain surrounding his truck yielded no clues—no footprints, no discarded items, and no signs of a struggle. The investigation into his disappearance has been complicated by personal challenges he was facing. Gary had a history of mental illness, including paranoia, and had been discharged from a psychiatric facility about six months prior to his disappearance. He was also on probation and had missed a court hearing and community service obligation in the days before he went missing, which was considered uncharacteristic of him. His family finds it difficult to believe he would have gotten lost, as he was intimately familiar with the area from a young age. The case has grown cold over the years, leaving his family with unanswered questions and a profound sense of loss as they continue to hope for a resolution.
Jun 03, 2017
Saltville
Virginia
Washington County
24370
Yes
118409
Smyth County Sheriff's Office
Marion
Virginia
Smyth County
24354
819 Matson Drive, Virginia
2767824056
County
Law Enforcement
2017-00782
Smyth County Sheriff's Office
na
Brown
Brown
Brown
06/26/2026
