Last month, I wrote about the disappearance of Dale Eugene Kelley. To refresh your memory, 20-year-old Kelley vanished in May 1981 en route from Carmichael—a Sacramento suburb—to Los Angeles, where he planned to visit his girlfriend. A month later, his car was found abandoned in New Orleans.
As I wrote in October, information about Dale Kelley’s disappearance is so incredibly scarce that it’s hard to identify any of the players involved, or know what and when things happened. I’ve since continued to search local newspaper, phone book, and city directory archives but had yet even a mention of Dale Kelley—or, at least, of this Dale Kelley, as it seems the greater Sacramento area was home to a gaggle of Dale E. Kelleys in the late 70’s and early 80’s.
This week, a Redditor and then-friend of Kelley’s left a rather informative comment my /r/UnresolvedMysteries post.
In its entirety, the friend’s comment read:
I was a friend of Dale’s and can answer all of these questions. First, he cannot be Snake River John Doe, as the physical description of that poor young man rules him out. Dale’s girlfriend was a UCLA Cheerleader, they met in Carmichael before she transferred there. Dale was a student, extremely reliable, totally sane, level headed, and a sweet human being. He was raised military and shared an apartment with his childhood friend (my then-boyfriend) and another guy. His folks lived out of state. I was at school in Chico at the time of his abduction.
Dale was leaving for a long weekend to visit his girlfriend. When he did not arrive as anticipated, she phoned my boyfriend very worried. He called a few friends from the south bay, on the off chance hope he had possibly detoured for a visit. It became obvious something had happened so my boyfriend filed the missing report. My boyfriend called me in Chico to relay this story.
I came up to Sac and we drove down Hwy 5 looking for some evidence of his car, possibly broken down. His other roommate and I took a photo to News 10, it was aired one time on the evening news. His girlfriend and her mother enlisted a number of psychics.
Several weeks later, a letter arrived from City of New Orleans about the car. My boyfriend turned the info in to the detective, who had the car shipped back over to Sac. I shall withold further info about what was in the car and its condition.
Dale did not drive his car to New Orleans, he would not have done that….never been there, knew nobody there, nor would he worry his friends or family. He was not known to have ever picked up a hitchhiker but was [laid] back and likely would respond to someone asking for help. I believe he was carjacked when stopped somewhere or pulled over to help someone who was broken down, abducted, and later killed.
To me, this is proof that the internet can, in fact, be used for both good and evil. Never did I imagine that my dinky little blog post about a 30-years-cold missing persons case would be seen by someone who actually knows something.
I am hoping to speak further with this commenter. In the meantime, the timeline of Kelley’s disappearance becomes that much clearer.
Pingback:In 1981, a Sacramento Man Disappears on Trip to Los Angeles. Two Weeks Later, His Car Found Abandoned in New Orleans: What happened to Dale Kelley? – Pretty Death Seller
Pingback:Where I've Been, a Missing Man, and a Cult - Pretty Death Seller
Pingback:Hot for Justice: Cold Case Stories - Podcatr
Who was the commenter? I know i had commented so is it me? I don’t recall many if any others comment
Hi
Dale is my older brother did you know him ?
Hello Michelle. I met your brother once. I’m Christina, listed as anon and my sister Lynn was the one who gave that info this blog is referencing above. She was girlfriend of Don, your brothers roommate and friend. I think his name was Don. I was like 13 or14 when this took place. I’ll never forget the morning we got the call that he didn’t make it to his girlfriend’s. Still unbelievable that nothing has turned up. But with extra help via the Internet sleuths, hopefully we’ll get enough eyes to search the unidentified between those States.
Still nothing? I’m bringing life back into this case in hopes of discovering dale marked as John Doe somewhere between sac,L.A. and LA. He still has siblings I believe but not sure about his folks. I’ll never stop wishing for his return for closure.
And this is Christina from the first connect above. Guess I’m not signed in.
Body found in Mississippi River may 2025.was wearing a silver band. Rendition drawing of him closely could resemble him
Hi I’m Dale Kelley’s sister
A silver band what ?
Okay, that’s my sister who have that info in this blog above. I am actively on these groups of unidentified and will continue trying to find a John Doe that turns out to be Dale. With the newly released info regarding that pat O’Briens post card and the Texas book and info, it at least gives us better search areas. I agree with my sister in that he likely was carjacked, killed and dumped(sorry, brutal reality) somewhere along the route from so Cal to LA. There’s a lot of mountains and vast lands for miles and miles. I assume this suspect left LA. To Texas and returned back to La. Or perhaps ended up in socal area from Texas and returned to La. I feel he was almost to where he was going when this happened. I’ve shared his case with many others on YouTube for podcasts and such. I will continue searching until I am no more in this world. Prayers to you and family Michelle.