Neal Lee Prather, 44, disappeared from Brooks County after abandoning his vehicle and running into brush near County Road 1352 on March 6, 2023. He had been driving south on Highway 281 near Falfurrias following an incident in which he reportedly removed a monitoring device from his leg after receiving upsetting news about his ex-wife. A high-speed pursuit with law enforcement ended when he left the car and fled on foot; he has not been seen or heard from since.

At the time he vanished, Prather had an outstanding warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and for violating a protective order in Jim Wells County. The Jim Wells County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation, but officials and the family say there have been few solid leads. Family members insist he would not have cut off all contact intentionally and fear something bad happened; community rumors suggest some people may know more than they have shared.

If anyone in the Alice, Orange Grove, Falfurrias or Brooks County area has information about Neal’s movements on or after March 6, 2023, please come forward.