Dale Eugene Kelley was a 21-year-old college student and athlete whose disappearance became one of the most puzzling missing person cases connected to Sacramento County, California. On May 20, 1981, Kelley left his home in Carmichael with what appeared to be a simple plan. He intended to drive to Los Angeles to visit his girlfriend. The trip should have taken only several hours, but Kelley never reached his destination.
What began as concern over a delayed arrival soon developed into a mystery that crossed several states. Approximately two weeks after Kelley vanished, his orange 1976 Toyota Celica was discovered abandoned in New Orleans, Louisiana, more than 2,000 miles from his home and far from the route he was expected to take.
Kelley was not found inside or near the vehicle. No publicly confirmed sighting placed him in New Orleans, and no evidence established that he personally drove the car there. His sudden disappearance, the unexpected movement of his vehicle across the country and his complete lack of communication led investigators to consider the possibility that he had met with foul play…