Why Did an Entire Family Vanish Overnight?

A young couple. Their 6-year-old daughter.

A dream of moving into the mountains for a quieter life.

And then — total silence.

In October 2009, the Jamison family — Bobby (44), Sherilynn (40), and their daughter Madyson (6) — vanished while searching for land in the remote hills of Oklahoma.

Their truck was found days later.

Inside: their IDs, phones, $32,000 in cash, and the family dog — alive but nearly starving.

No sign of the family.

For years, no one knew what happened.

Then in 2013, hunters found three skeletons in the woods — just 3 miles from the truck.

They were the Jamisons.

But no cause of death.

No evidence of foul play.

No arrests. Just mystery.

So what really happened?

🚗 The Last Known Day: October 8, 2009

The Jamisons left their home in Eufaula, Oklahoma, to check out a 40-acre plot of land near Red Oak, where they dreamed of living off-grid.

Security footage at their home showed them:

Moving things into their truck

In a strange, robotic way — not speaking to each other

Making over 20 silent trips back and forth

Some said it looked like they were in a trance.

Then, they vanished.

🧩 The Truck: Found Abandoned and Full of Clues

Eight days later, the family’s white truck was found by a dirt road in a heavily wooded area.

Inside, investigators found:

Bobby and Sherilynn’s wallets and IDs

Sherilynn’s purse and phone

Bobby’s briefcase

Their small dog, alive but starving

And $32,000 in cash hidden under the seat

Strangely, there were no signs of struggle, damage, or blood.

It looked like they just… walked away.

But why would they leave their dog, money, and belongings behind?

💀 The Bodies Are Found — But Offer No Answers

In 2013, over 4 years after their disappearance, hunters stumbled upon partial skeletal remains in the woods — about 3 miles from where the truck was found.

Forensics confirmed: it was Bobby, Sherilynn, and Madyson.

But there was no clear cause of death.

No bullet wounds. No knife marks. No trauma.

Just bones, weathered by time, lying side-by-side in shallow brush.

🔎 The Theories: What Really Happened to the Jamisons?

1. Murder — But By Who?

Some believe the family was murdered — possibly over money, land deals, or something darker.

But no one knows who, or how. The cash was untouched. No signs of robbery.

2. A Drug Deal Gone Wrong

The large amount of cash led many to suspect the Jamisons were involved in drugs.

Some say they may have met with someone in the woods — and it went bad.

But there was no evidence of drugs in their system or home.

3. They Got Lost and Died from Exposure

Maybe they wandered off, got lost, and died from hypothermia or dehydration.

But they were only 3 miles from the truck. Why didn’t they return?

And would an entire family lie down to die — together?

4. Mental Health and Suicide

Reports suggest Bobby was depressed. Sherilynn had mental health struggles too.

But suicide? With a child? In the woods?

And again — no suicide note. No weapons. No overdose.

5. Something Supernatural?

Sherilynn’s mother told reporters the family believed their house was haunted, and that they had seen spirits.

Some believe they were involved in spiritual practices and were targeted — or cursed.

Far-fetched? Maybe. But the bizarre behavior on their home’s security footage made this theory stick in online forums.

📂 Odd Clues from the Past

Sherilynn once wrote a long, angry letter to Bobby — found in the truck. It showed they were fighting, possibly even unstable.

Also:

Bobby had a lawsuit going against his father, a violent man tied to meth and threats

Sherilynn’s gun was missing from the truck

The dog was alive, but barely — meaning the family likely didn’t plan to leave long

So many pieces — but nothing that fits.

📺 Media and Pop Culture

The Jamison case has appeared in:

Disappeared (ID Channel)

Buzzfeed Unsolved

YouTube and Reddit deep-dives with millions of views

Podcasts like Crime Junkie and Unresolved

It remains a classic modern American mystery — a story with no ending.

🕯️ Final Thoughts: A Vanishing with No Justice

The Jamisons were a family trying to escape stress, debt, and city life.

Instead, they found death in the wilderness — and left behind a trail of questions with no answers.

Who took them into the woods?

Did they choose to vanish — or were they forced?

And why, in a world full of cameras and data, could three people disappear forever — and no one notice?

Until someone speaks… this mystery will remain a haunting reminder of how entire lives can vanish in the space of one drive down a dirt road.