Missing Person

Charles Childree

Charles Childree, 66, disappeared from the Arguta community of Dale County on July 21, 2015. NamUs lists case MP34170 as open and unresolved, and the Dale County Sheriff’s Office remained publicly committed to the investigation in February 2024.

Incident date: July 21, 2015
Location: Arguta, Dale County
Independent sources: 3

The record

Charles Childree was 66 when he disappeared from the Arguta community in Dale County on July 21, 2015. The U.S. Department of Justice’s NamUs database lists his case, MP34170, as open and unresolved. NamUs says he was last in his yard that day. 1

Childree routinely walked along County Road 15 and nearby county roads, according to NamUs. The official record also states that he had a mental disability and other medical conditions. 1

WTVY reported in 2024 that Childree was last spotted walking on County Road 15 near his home. Friends and relatives said he commonly walked for miles and collected cans. Sheriff Mason Bynum told the station that investigators lacked usual ways of tracing Childree because he had no cellphone or banking information. 2

According to Bynum, patrol officers responded initially, followed by investigators after authorities determined that the circumstances required a broader response. Investigators retraced Childree’s usual walking routes, and search-and-rescue volunteers and dogs searched the full length of County Road 13 in 2021. 2

WSFA reported that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued a missing senior alert in 2015. The station said relatives described Childree’s regular route as proceeding north on County Road 15, turning onto County Road 13 at the former Arguta schoolhouse and continuing to the end of that road before returning the same way. Relatives also said he sometimes walked in nearby woods. 3

The family told WSFA that Childree was last seen wearing blue jeans, a short-sleeve plaid shirt, an orange baseball cap and black work boots, and that he carried a walking stick. Those clothing details appear only in that report. 3

Bynum said in February 2024 that the investigation remained active and that deputies continued to follow leads, although the number of leads had declined with time. He asked anyone with information to contact the Dale County Sheriff’s Office and said information could be provided anonymously. 2

NamUs identifies the Dale County Sheriff’s Office as the primary investigating agency. 1

Timeline

July 21, 2015Disputed
Charles Childree, 66, was last in his yard, according to NamUs; news reports variously describe him as last seen at his home or walking on County Road 15 near it.
2015Reported
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued a missing senior alert, according to WSFA.
2021Reported
Search-and-rescue volunteers and dogs searched the full stretch of County Road 13 in Arguta, according to WTVY.
July 27, 2022Reported
WSFA reported that Childree’s family was still searching seven years after his disappearance.
February 29, 2024Reported
Sheriff Mason Bynum told WTVY that the investigation remained active and deputies continued following leads.

Documented claims

Charles Childree was 66 when he disappeared in Dale County on July 21, 2015.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.wtvy.com/2024/03/01/investigators-determined-solve-nearly-9-year-old-case-missing-dale-county-man/
NamUs case MP34170 for Charles Childree is open and unresolved.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.
Childree was last in his yard on July 21, 2015.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.
Childree routinely walked along County Road 15 and adjacent county roads.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Corroborated by 2 additional sources: https://www.wtvy.com/2024/03/01/investigators-determined-solve-nearly-9-year-old-case-missing-dale-county-man/, https://www.wsfa.com/2022/07/27/7-years-later-family-still-searching-south-alabama-man/
NamUs states that Childree had a mental disability and other medical conditions.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.
WTVY reported that Childree was last spotted walking on County Road 15 near his home in Arguta.
Reported
Source: WTVY · Corroborated by 1 additional source: https://www.wsfa.com/2022/07/27/7-years-later-family-still-searching-south-alabama-man/
Friends and relatives said Childree commonly walked for miles and collected cans.
Reported
Source: WTVY · Single-source claim.
Sheriff Mason Bynum said investigators could not use common tracing methods because Childree had no cellphone or banking information.
Reported
Source: WTVY · Single-source claim.
Bynum said patrol officers responded initially and investigators joined after authorities determined the case required a broader response.
Reported
Source: WTVY · Single-source claim.
Investigators retraced Childree’s normal walking paths, and search-and-rescue volunteers and dogs searched the entire stretch of County Road 13 in 2021.
Reported
Source: WTVY · Single-source claim.
WSFA reported that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued a missing senior alert for Childree in 2015.
Reported
Source: WSFA · Single-source claim.
Relatives described Childree’s usual route as north on County Road 15, then onto County Road 13 at the former Arguta schoolhouse, continuing to the road’s end and returning along the same route.
Reported
Source: WSFA · Single-source claim.
Relatives said Childree also walked in woods in the Arguta community.
Reported
Source: WSFA · Single-source claim.
The family said Childree was last seen wearing blue jeans, a short-sleeve plaid shirt, an orange baseball cap and black work boots, and carrying a walking stick.
Reported
Source: WSFA · Single-source claim.
Bynum said in February 2024 that the investigation remained active and deputies continued following leads, though leads had dwindled.
Reported
Source: WTVY · Single-source claim.
Bynum said information could be given anonymously to the sheriff’s office.
Reported
Source: WTVY · Single-source claim.
NamUs identifies the Dale County Sheriff’s Office as the primary investigating agency.
Confirmed
Source: U.S. Department of Justice NamUs · Single-source claim.

Sources

NamUs Missing Person Case MP34170: Charles Childree — U.S. Department of Justice NamUsOpen
Investigators determined to solve nearly 9-year-old case of a missing Dale County man — WTVYOpen
7 years later: Family still searching for south Alabama man — WSFAOpen