Joseph Mack Maples, 46, was last seen in Birmingham, Alabama, on August 11, 1999. A real estate professional, he visited the local Humane Society that day and told staff he planned to leave the area and donate all his possessions, including his two dogs. After that visit he reportedly drove to the Birmingham airport, left his vehicle there, and boarded a flight to Dallas, Texas. He has not been seen or heard from since.

Maples was described as a white male, 6 feet tall, about 175 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He may have had prior surgery on a shoulder or rotator cuff and may have suffered heart problems, raising concerns he could need medical care. Family members are divided between thinking he left voluntarily to escape painful memories tied to Birmingham and finding his prolonged silence out of character.

The Birmingham Police Department lists him as an endangered missing person and his profile remains active with state and national missing-person databases. If anyone knew Joseph Maples, his travels, or saw him after August 11, 1999, please share what we might not know.