Melvin Owens, a father of two, was 49 years old at the time that he went to the club not far from his home in Cruger on April 27. The Greenwood Commonwealth reported in 2019 that Owens lived a short drive away from there in a mobile home park off U.S. 49 in Leflore County.
But he never made it home, and his tan Chevrolet Malibu was later found stuck and abandoned on County Road 75 in Carroll County. When the car was found, there were reportedly no footprints or any evidence of Owens anywhere around the car. A security camera at a nearby hunting camp picked up the car going into the woods, but nothing and no one coming out.
A search including local deputies, troopers, and park rangers was conducted near where the car was found and again, there was nothing found. Authorities at the time said there was nothing showing foul play. But there was nothing showing, period.
Carroll County Sheriff Clint Walker told the Commonwealth that during the search, people were warned to watch for alligators and said large gators could be seen from helicopters flying over the search area.
Owens’ sister Jannie Banks said family members fear the worst.
“I believe it’s foul play, and I truly believe that. He had two cars. He had a home he paid for,” she told the Commonwealth in 2019. “He didn’t have a reason to walk away and just leave like that.”
At the time of his disappearance, Melvin Owens was 5’6″, 230 lbs with greying black hair and brown eyes. He was wearing a white shirt with black pants, black shoes and a black hat.
If you know anything about Melvin Owens’ whereabouts or disappearance, contact the Leflore County Sheriff’s Department at 662-453-5141, the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department at 662-237-9284 or CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
