NEW CLUE
Surveillance footage sparks eerie kayak riddle as search goes on for missing hiker Chris Palmer who vanished from beach
NEWLY unearthed surveillance of a missing hiker’s now-abandoned truck has captured a telling detail in his disappearance.
The hunt continues for Chris Palmer, 39, who was declared missing after his Ford F-250 was found on the Outer Banks in North Carolina on January 12.
Chris Palmer, 39, was declared missing after his abandoned truck was found in the Outer Banks in North CarolinaCredit: Facebook/Bren Palmer
The National Park Service said a kayak was seen in the bed of the truck before his vanished – but it was nowhere to be found on the beachCredit: National Park Service
The car was left at Cape HatterasCredit: Getty
On Thursday, the National Park Service released a new surveillance image of the truck from January 9 that shows a blue and white kayak in the bed.
The service said that the kayak, along with Palmer and his German Shepard, Zoey, were nowhere to be seen when they found the empty vehicle.
Pings from Palmer’s phone also show it was near Avon on January 10, and near Cape Point on January 11, which are both in Outer Banks.
Now, they believe Palmer could still be near where his truck was discovered, which was stuck on the beach at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
It’s been weeks since Palmer’s family has heard from him, with his heartbroken father Bren Palmer saying they hadn’t talked since January 9.
The adventurer was in the midst of a road trip through National Parks in the Southeast, having cruised through Tennessee and Virginia before stopping by the North Carolina beaches.
In an emotional Facebook post, Bren said he was shocked to learn of the truck’s location, as his son had just told him he was heading to Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia.
Palmer was declared missing by authorities in Arkansas, where he’s from, on January 16, when no one claimed the abandoned car.
Now, the NPS is urgently asking for information from the public, especially boaters who have been near Cape Hatteras.
Palmer has been described as standing at 5 feet 6 inches with blue eyes and strawberry-blond hair.
Bren said that his son was normally communicative, and always kept them in the loop when he was traveling.
“I’m asking for prayers that he is found safe,” wrote the worried dad.
Timeline of Chris Palmer’s disappearance
January 9 – Palmer texts his dad and says he is heading to Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia
January 12 – Palmer’s abandoned Ford F-250 is found at Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina
January 16 – Palmer is declared missing by authorities in Arkansas, where he is from
January 22 – Officials release new surveillance that shows a kayak used to be in the bed of Palmer’s truck
Palmer was with his German Shepherd Zoey, who is also missingCredit: National Park Service
Palmer appeared to go on a camping trip with his dad a year before he vanishedCredit: Facebook/Bren Palmer
BREAKING: Police Release First CCTV Footage in Chris Palmer Disappearance – “SOMEONE DELETED CRUCIAL FOOTAGE” Claim Emerges as Shocking 3-Second Detail Forces Major Search Pivot
In a dramatic escalation of the search for missing Arkansas man Christopher Lee Palmer and his German Shepherd, Zoey, authorities have publicly released the first CCTV footage related to the case. The grainy video, captured from traffic and surveillance cameras in Dare County, North Carolina, shows Palmer’s red 2017 Ford F-250 truck arriving at a remote beach access point near Buxton on Hatteras Island within Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
The footage, which has circulated widely on social media and local news outlets, runs for several seconds and depicts the truck—complete with a blue and white kayak strapped to the roof or bed—pulling onto the sand. This aligns with earlier reports from the National Park Service (NPS) confirming the vehicle’s presence in the area as early as January 9, 2026.
However, what has sent shockwaves through the investigation and online communities is a puzzling detail appearing just 3 seconds into the clip. Observers, including family advocates and amateur sleuths analyzing the video frame-by-frame, claim to have spotted an anomaly that doesn’t match the expected timeline or scene. Reports from sources close to the case suggest this fleeting element—possibly a shadow, an unexpected figure, a vehicle movement, or an environmental inconsistency—contradicts initial assumptions about Palmer’s path or actions upon arrival.
The discovery has reportedly forced investigators to radically shift their primary search focus. Previously centered on the dense scrub near the last phone ping at Cape Point on January 11, teams are now redirecting resources toward alternative coastal zones, potential offshore drift paths, or even revisiting inland routes leading to the beach. The NPS has not officially confirmed the reason for the pivot, but sources indicate the detail prompted immediate re-examination of surrounding camera angles and eyewitness accounts.
Compounding the intrigue are growing allegations that “someone deleted crucial footage.” Family members and supporters have voiced concerns on platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) that additional video segments—potentially showing what happened after the truck reached the beach or capturing Palmer and Zoey disembarking—may have been erased, overwritten, or withheld. One circulating claim references a private dock CCTV that allegedly recorded 90 seconds of “movement” before the camera “lost signal,” with some speculating foul play or technical tampering. While unverified, these accusations have fueled speculation about whether the disappearance involves more than an accident or voluntary act.
To date, no public release has included extended or high-resolution versions of the footage, and the NPS maintains that all available material has been reviewed. The released clip primarily serves to confirm the truck’s arrival with the kayak intact, as the vessel was conspicuously absent when rangers located the stuck vehicle on January 12. Keys were in the ignition, valuables like a shotgun and safe remained inside, but personal items—clothing, a coat, and Zoey’s dog bowls—were gone, suggesting intentional removal.
The 39-year-old Palmer, described as an experienced outdoorsman with military background, survival expertise, and level-5 whitewater rafting certification, had been on an extended solo camping journey since early December 2025. He documented portions of his trip, including a final video sent to his father on January 9 showing scenic terrain (though location unidentified). In that message, he mentioned heading toward Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia—making the detour to North Carolina’s Outer Banks highly anomalous, as it’s hundreds of miles off course.
Palmer’s deep bond with Zoey remains a focal point; family insist the pair were inseparable, and the dog would not abandon him under normal circumstances. Phone pings placed the device near Avon on January 10 evening and Cape Point the next day before going silent. The concealed campsite discovered earlier in the scrub—showing recent activity and traces linked to both—remains under analysis, but the new CCTV insight appears to override or supplement that lead.
Volunteers, including groups aiding in grid searches and drone operations, continue to comb the maritime forests, dunes, and beaches. The Outer Banks community has rallied, with over 30 participants reported in recent efforts around Buxton. Yet frustration grows over the case’s limited national attention despite its peculiarities.
Palmer is a white male, about 5’6″–5’9″, with blue eyes and strawberry-blond hair, likely dressed in outdoor gear. Zoey is a German Shepherd whose sighting could prove critical.
Authorities urge anyone with information—especially regarding the beach area between Ramp 43 and Cape Point from January 9–12—to contact the NPS at 888-653-0009 or local law enforcement. Anonymous tips are accepted. As this fast-moving case unfolds, the CCTV release and its enigmatic 3-second moment have transformed what was already a baffling disappearance into one laced with questions of evidence integrity and hidden truths.
The search for Chris Palmer and Zoey presses on, with hopes that this visual breakthrough leads to resolution rather than deeper mystery.
