Security footage shows the Jamisons loading up their vehicle in the dead of night and taking off into the Oklahoma woods. They didn’t make it far—but the clues they left behind only raised more questions than answers.
Gone Without A Trace
Until October 8, 2009, the Jamison family were leading outwardly normal lives. Bobby Dale, 44, was unable to work after a car accident left him with chronic pain in 2003. He and his wife, Sherilyn, were both on disability. In the middle of the night, Bobby Dale ushered Sherilyn, his six-year-old daughter, and the family dog into their pickup truck.
Strange Discovery
Eight days later, the Jamisons’ car was found in Latimer County, one hour away from their house. The family had plans to purchase 40 acres of property in the area. But when police discovered the truck, they were bewildered by what they found inside of it.
They Left Their Lives Behind
In the backseat, their dog Maisy was severely malnourished, but still alive. They also located Bobby’s wallet and cell phone, Sheirlyn’s purse, all forms of identification, clothing, and $32,000 cash stashed under the driver’s seat.
Where Did They Go?
Bobby’s phone contained the last known photos of Madyson, his daughter, which appeared to have been taken on the day the family went missing. However, nobody was able to explain how the phone had ended up back inside the abandoned car.
Get Rich Quick
It was unclear how Bobby or Sherilyn had obtained $32,000—neither had jobs, instead subsisting on disability checks—or what they intended to do with it. Investigators proposed that the money was used either to buy or sell drugs, but there were holes in the theory.
Unanswered Questions
Why would the Jamisons have brought their daughter and dog along with them if they were involved in a drug transaction? Had they been forcibly removed from the truck under duress, leaving all their personal effects behind? It was impossible to tell.
Empty-Handed
Alongside investigators, a search party combed through the surrounding woods for miles. Volunteers, horses, helicopters, and cadaver dogs explored the area, desperate for any trace of the Jamison family, who seem to have vanished into thin air. Nothing turned up.
Four Years Later
Years passed with no sign of the Jamisons. Then, on November 16, 2013, over four years since the family disappeared, hunters stumbled upon the skeletal remains of two adults and one child just three miles from where the truck was found. Bone fragments, bits of clothing, shoes, and teeth were discovered at the site.
Bullet Hole
Forensic investigators determined that the bodies belonged to Bobby, Sherilyn, and Madyson, but the state of decomposition made the cause of death indeterminable. The coroner was able to identify a hole in Bobby’s skull—possibly from a bullet.
Security Footage
Police hopped back on the case. They first uncovered a bizarre security video filmed outside of the Jamisons’ home: the couple can be seen walking back and forth between the house and truck, filling it with their belongings, seemingly in a trance. Neither of them exchanged a single word to one another.
Odd Behavior
In the months leading up to the family’s disappearance, Bobby and Sherilyn’s behavior had allegedly been unusual—according to friends and acquaintances, the two appeared thin to the point of emaciation. They were also regularly carrying large sums of cash.
Hidden Secrets
The Jamisons reportedly suffered from mental illness, struggling with depression and, in Sheriyln’s case, bipolar disorder, for which rarely took her medication. Their finances were in the gutter and the family was involved with a number of lawsuits. In fact, Bobby had accused his father of trying to murder him not once, but twice.
Was He A Suspect?
Bobby’s father, Bob Dean, had been threatening the family so often that Bobby took out a restraining order. Bob Dean’s ex-wife even stated that Sherilyn had installed security cameras in their home to protect them from Bobby’s father. However, he died only two months after the Jamisons went missing, and had been in poor health for some time.
Bad Parenting, or Something More?
Regardless of their financial issues and the lingering threat of Bob Dean, the Jamisons’ behavior was rapidly deteriorating. They pulled Madyson out of kindergarten and were taking legal action against the school. In the photos on Bobby’s phone, Madyson wasn’t wearing a jacket, despite the freezing October weather. She also appears to be upset. What kind of parents were they?
Part of the Occult
After the discovery of the security footage, Pastor Gary Brandon stepped forward. He revealed that Bobby had come to the pastor with suspicions that his house was haunted by malevolent spirits. The Jamisons had a contentious relationship with their neighbors, who believed Sherilyn was involved with the occult.
Witches’ Bible
Sherilyn’s best friend, Niki Shenold, said she had bought a “witches’ bible” for Sherilyn as a joke. When Sherilyn’s cats died under suspicious circumstances, Sherilyn wrote a strange message across a storage container on her property: “3 cats killed to date buy [sic] people in this area… witches don’t like there [sic] black cat [sic] killed.”
Special Bullets
Bobby told Pastor Gary Brandon that he believed three to four spirits were residing in their home; he asked to purchase “special bullets” with which to shoot the apparitions. Apparently, he had seen several spirits on the roof of their home. Not only that, but the spirits of two children, Emily and Michael, were in communication with Madyson.
Communicating With the Other Side
According to Bobby, Madyson was said to have regularly spoken with Emily’s sister, “who had wings.” Sherilyn, on the other hand, supposedly didn’t mind the thought of demons because she believed she had the power to exorcize them.
Starting Over
Allegedly, the family was intending to transport the storage container upon which Sherilyn had written to the 40-acre plot of land and live inside of it. Despite this, Sherilyn’s son Colton, who had seen the family mere weeks before their disappearance, wasn’t aware that they planned to move.
Lost in the Woods
There are many theories surrounding the disappearance of the Jamison family. Some people believe they simply died from exposure after getting lost in the woods—but the evidence just doesn’t align with this theory...
Forced to Comply
It was unlikely that Bobby would have voluntarily walked three miles of his own volition, as he experienced back pain from the accident while even walking short distances. There is also no reason the family would have left their wallets, GPS, and cell phone in their car. Moreover, if they had intended to go for a walk, they would have brought Maisy with them. Authorities believe the Jamisons were forced out of their vehicle.
Connection to Meth
During the investigation, some acquaintances claimed Bobby and Sherilyn were using meth. At one point, Sherilyn can be seen on surveillance footage putting a brown briefcase into the truck, but the briefcase was never found. Investigators allege the suitcase was likely full of money. Despite this, no evidence indicating either Bobby or Sherilyn took or dealt any hard drugs was ever found.
Casualties in a Drug Deal Gone Awry
It was then speculated that the family may have accidentally witnessed a drug deal, since the area was known for drugs—specifically meth labs. In the case of their murder, another theory was posited: the Jamisons were characterized by a detective on the case as being “obsessed with death.”
Hate Letter
In the abandoned truck, authorities came across an 11-page letter written by Sherilyn and addressed to Bobby. The letter was described as a “hate letter” in which Sherilyn referred to Bobby as a “loner” and a “hermit.” She also claimed that she wanted a divorce. Another letter mentioned that death was found at their home in Eufaula.
Missing Gun
The letters led investigators to question whether one of the Jamison parents shot the other and their child, then committed suicide. This would align with the discovery of a hole in Bobby’s skull. However, the crime would then be pinned on Sherilyn, who owned a .22 caliber pistol that she kept beneath the driver's seat. The gun was never found.
Possible Suspect
In the event that the family was murdered, one of the first suspects was Kenneth Bellows, who had lived with the Jamisons months before they disappeared. While staying at the house, Bellows had offended Sherilyn by making racist comments about Native Americans, claiming white people were superior. Sherilyn, who was part Native, threatened Bellows with a gun and forced him to leave the premises.
Upsetting A Cult
Niki Shenold believed the Jamisons upset people in the mountains. Sherilyn had written messages of peace and love over top of satanic worship phrases on a wrecked car near the place where the Jamisons eventually went missing. The car was said to be used for shooting practice.
Killed by the KKK
Sherilyn’s mother, Connie Kokotan, expressed that she believes the family was murdered by a white supremacist cult. Niki Shenold even received an anonymous call from a woman claiming to have seen Sherilyn’s name on the United White Knights’ hit list. The cult is located in Southeast Oklahoma.
Witness Protection
Still, after years of widespread investigation, media coverage, and the efforts of professional and amateur sleuths alike, some people are convinced the family is alive. It is theorized that the Jamisons became a part of the U.S. Federal Witness Protection Program.
Ten Years Later
The lead investigator on the crime quit his job in 2011, reportedly feeling guilty about not being able to uncover Madyson’s killer. Pastor Gary Brandon left Eufaula and never spoke of the incident again. Maisy, the family’s dog, was adopted by Bobby’s mother. Ten years after their original disappearance and six years after their remains were found, there are still no answers.