Man & His Dog Missing in Outer Banks Presumed Dead as His Family Issues a Statement, Explaining Request to End Search

A man declared missing over a week ago after his abandoned truck was found in a North Carolina beach preserve is believed to be dead, and his family is speaking out.

In a January 20 news release, the National Park Service noted that 39-year-old Chris Palmer had officially been declared a missing person on January 16. He last made contact with his family on January 9, and his truck was found on the beach at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Over the weekend, Chris‘ parent Bren Palmer took to Facebook to request that authorities call off the search for their son.

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“We recently learned that Christopher was facing a terminal illness. Knowing this has helped us understand the choices he made,” Bren wrote in the post.

They continued: “Christopher loved the outdoors and valued his independence. The treatments ahead would have taken much of that away, and he did not want that future for himself.”

“Personal belongings of Christopher’s were found along the coastline, and our family believes our son perished in the sea. As heartbreaking as this is, we have found a measure of peace in that understanding,” they wrote.

In a January 22 news update, the National Park Service noted that Chris‘ truck had been spotted in Dare County, N.C. on January 9 with a kayak in the trunk. His phone pinged near Avon the following day and near Cape Point in Buxton on January 11.

His truck was found on January 12, “stuck on the beach.” It had reportedly been there overnight.

Bren provided updates on Facebook, starting with a request for help on January 19. They noted that their son was a frequent camper and always kept in touch with his family.

In another post, Bren addressed their son’s dog, Zoey.

“She was a beautiful well behaved 11 year old German Shepard that he loved,” they wrote, noting that Chris had her since she was a puppy.

“Zoey was very sick took several medications and also had sever hip dysplasia. Its our belief that our son spent some time in the woods to be with her in her final days. Evidence of that was a shovel found in his truck and after her passing he laid her to rest and continued his trip to the coast. We thank everyone for their concern and prayers for Zoey,” they wrote.

Reflecting on the search and rescue efforts, Bren wrote, “It has been profoundly humbling to see so many people care for someone they never met. Our family is at peace and asks that Christopher’s memory and the safety of others be respected as we seek closure.”