Roger Wade Ayscue, known to family and friends as Kojak, was 40 when he was last seen at his home on Collie Road in Castalia, North Carolina, on July 7, 2009. The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office received a missing person report on August 28, 2009, after weeks with no contact. The report noted Ayscue had been in an argument with his roommate about weapons shortly before he vanished.

A Silver Alert was issued and law enforcement plus dozens of volunteers searched without success; the alert expired after 90 days but the case stayed open. Ayscue is described as a white male, brown hair, hazel eyes, about 5 feet 6 inches and 150–160 pounds. Distinctive tattoos include Kojack in numbers, a scorpion on his neck, Garfield on his left leg, Shannon Devil TB, an unknown chest scar and another tattoo on his left arm. A $5,000 reward was offered for information.

Years later a complicated family connection emerged when Ayscue’s sister Kimberly Hancock was charged in an unrelated cold case; authorities have not named Hancock as a suspect in Roger’s disappearance. The circumstances have prompted speculation that he may have known something about Deborah Deans’ death, but no official link has been announced. If anyone knew Roger, his movements around July 2009, or the Collie Road area, please share what information is available.