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Chad Austin was a 30-year-old Buena Vista, Virginia, man who was described as kind, outdoorsy, and tight with his family. He was a high-achieving student and athlete who loved football and was always described as a friendly, helpful presence in his neighborhood.
Chad was employed at a local zoo and and was deeply passionate about animals, frequently posting about his interactions with them in photos and videos. He loved time outside, particularly hiking, fishing, and seeing waterfalls on the Blue Ridge Parkway, his favorite being Panther Falls. Chad left home on Memorial Day, May 27, 2019, with his dog, Gunner, to visit Panther Falls.
He did not come back that night. The next day, his family learned that his car, with Gunner safely locked inside, was discovered parked at Panther Falls. Chad's wallet and other belongings were subsequently discovered close to where he was. Chad's body was not found until almost a full year later, in March 2020, near Panther Falls.
The medical examiner was unable to establish a cause of death owing to the state of the remains, yet authorities deemed the case a homicide based on forensic evidence and indications of a struggle. The case is still open, with police believing individuals within the community might possess vital information regarding the events.
The disappearance of Chad Austin and the initial investigation
As per NBC News, the disappearance of Chad Austin started on the day of Memorial Day in 2019. Campers last saw him around Panther Falls, which is to the east of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Chad's car was discovered abandoned on Panther Falls Road on 28th May 2019, and his dog, Gunner, was found inside. The car was switched off and locked, and Gunner was left untouched.
Chad's family was initially not worried, as it was normal for him to stay away for a short time. But since he failed to come back or respond to calls, concern began to grow. Police and search parties, such as the Buena Vista Police Department, the Virginia State Police, and the Amherst County Sheriff's Office, began the search.
They discovered Chad Austin's keys and personal belongings on the road beside his vehicle. The search was hampered by rain, which made it hard to traverse the terrain. As per NBC news, law enforcement and volunteers, however, persisted in searching for Chad.
The official search was halted on May 31, but his family persisted in searching for him, utilizing social media and local outreach to continue bringing attention to his case.
Discovery of remains and evidence
As per NBC News, close to one year later, in March 2020, a fisherman found skeletal remains at Panther Falls. The remains were located roughly a half mile above where Chad's vehicle had been parked, in a rough terrain that involved descending a steep hill to access the creek. In May 2020, the family was informed that the remains were those of Chad Austin.
Forensic investigators took more property and evidence from the scene. The items were forwarded to the Virginia Department of Forensic Science for analysis. Of note, Chad's wallet appeared in December 2019 on a trail within the Panther Falls area six months after he went missing.
Officials reported that the wallet had not been there during earlier searches and was in good condition, which raised questions about how it ended up there. As per WSLS 10 news, investigators also discovered two knives with their blades open close to the location where Chad Austin's belongings were found.
Forensic evidence showed that there was a struggle between Chad and another individual, which ended in his death. The police have not given more information on what kind of struggle took place or what forensic evidence was used.
Ongoing investigation and community impact
As per WSLS 10 news, from the beginning, officials investigated Chad Austin's disappearance as a potential homicide. Virginia State Police Special Agent Kevin Zirkle said that investigators felt that there was a group of people who knew what happened to Chad and were present when he died.
He stressed that progress was being made and encouraged anyone with information to come forward. Chad's family has continued to be involved in pursuing justice. They changed their name for the Facebook group from "Bring Chad Home" to "Justice for Chad Austin" once his remains had been discovered.
The family continues to call upon the community to come forward with information, emphasizing that someone must know something about what occurred, particularly because Panther Falls had been busy on Memorial Day. The case is currently categorized in the Virginia State Police Cold Case Database as a homicide.
As per WSLS 10 news, authorities indicate that forensic evidence corroborates the hypothesis that Chad was murdered after a struggle. They continue to work on leads and feel that people in the community will be the key to solving the case. They urge anyone with information to come forward and contact the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Salem Field Office.
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The Chad Austin case is being featured as part of the "Cold Case Spotlight" series by Dateline NBC.
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