THE MISSING FILES: Mom of Chance Englebert who vanished in 2019 fears someone 'dumped him like trash'
THE MISSING FILES is a weekly special feature that looks into cases of missing people across America that have shattered communities and families. It delves into the known facts and the latest updates on these mysterious disappearances.
GERING, NEBRASKA: It has been over three years since Chance Englebert's family heard from him. Chance, who would now be 29, was from Moorcroft, Wyoming, and went missing in Gering. He was last seen on surveillance video on July 6, 2019, walking north on 10th Street and then cutting west through Terrytown. His phone pinged for the last time near a tower by Western Travel Terminal.
Investigators launched massive search efforts to find Chance but were unsuccessful. They received no solid tips. The case, however, remains active. Chance's mom, Dawn Englebert, has now opened up on the details of the case.
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"When I got out of church July 7, my husband called me and said Chance didn’t come home yet and they were filing a missing person report," Dawn told MEAWW. I got sick to my stomach. When I got home we started calling police departments. As I waited, I kept thinking Chance would walk in and say "Mom, I need help". But he didn’t. So we headed to Gering the next morning."
The disappearance of Chance Englebert
Chance, a husband and father, had just taken a new job in Moorcroft when he mysteriously vanished. He was a native of Edgemont, South Dakota, and had taken part in rodeo competitions in high school. He attended Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
On the day of his disappearance, Chance and his wife were visiting her grandparents in Gering. At one point, Chance went golfing with some of his wife's family members. He later called his wife and asked her to pick him up so they could go home, mentioning that he had an argument with his golf partners. He is said to have become upset and walked off to clear his head. When his wife arrived, he had already gone missing.
'Someone dumped him like trash'
"I don’t understand why any of this happened but I do assume someone he knew hurt him and just dumped him like trash. I don’t think they realized how special and loved Chance was," Dawn said.
On being asked what her last conversation with Chance was, Dawn said, "This what hurts more than anything. Chance told me to give him a week alone to work on his marriage and that he might see me next week. I did! I hadn’t talked to him that whole week. It broke my heart and I think about it every day. I look back at memories and pictures and wonder why any of this happened."
"I want law enforcement to keep investigating so I can have my son home. I want to ask them, what if it was their son? What would they do? How would they feel?" Dawn asked. "And I would want to tell Chance that we love him and miss him, and have always been very proud of him."
She added, "Chance would never leave his son, his dad and me, his brothers, grandparents, aunts, cousins, his friends, or his community. This is how we know he didn’t leave of his own will. A mom just knows."
'Chance worked hard, played even harder'
Recalling older days, Dawn said, "Chance was just special. He was the most caring, hardworking, compassionate and funny kid. He worked hard, played even harder and loved so much. Any room he walked into would light up. He fought for what he believed in and was very protective of his family and friends and would do anything for them."
"Chance and I shared a very close bond. We spent so many weekends moving cows, haying and building derby cars. So many amazing memories. I was so overjoyed when he told me I was going to be a grandmother. He was nervous but so excited," she added.
There is a $220,000 reward at present. "We are more than happy to pay this reward, so if you know anything to help us, please come forward," Dawn said. Chance's family has also set up a Facebook page, 'Help Find Chance Englebert,' to raise awareness about his disappearance.
Anybody with information about Chance's whereabouts is urged to contact the Gering Police Department at 308-436-5088.