More than six years after a Wyoming man vanished while visiting family in Nebraska, law enforcement officials have concluded their investigation into his death, determining it to be accidental. However, the victim's mother strongly disputes these findings, maintaining that her son was murdered.
Chance Englebert went missing from Gering, Nebraska, on July 6, 2019, after walking away following an argument with relatives while visiting his wife's grandparents. Extensive multi-state searches involving dozens of agencies and technical data reviews followed. On October 10, 2025, hikers discovered human remains at the Scotts Bluff National Monument property, which were later positively identified as Englebert.
A joint statement issued by the Gering Police Department and the Scotts Bluff County Attorney’s Office declared that a thorough investigation found no evidence indicating foul play. Authorities stated that Englebert's cause of death was attributed to blunt force trauma consistent with a rapid deceleration event, such as a fall from a height ranging between 130 and 290 feet.
Despite the official conclusions, Dawn Englebert, the victim's mother, rejects the theory that her son accidentally fell while attempting to take a shortcut. She contends that he would have stayed on the highway rather than attempting to navigate the monument area. She suspects that someone either accidentally struck him with a vehicle or engaged in a physical confrontation that escalated, after which his body was concealed and later relocated.
The family held a celebration of life for Englebert in Edgemont, South Dakota, where he grew up participating in high school rodeo events. Dawn continues to advocate for her son through a dedicated social media page, pressing for answers in a case that continues to leave his loved ones searching for justice.