Donald Ray Fortson, a 52-year-old white male known as Don, was last seen on November 3, 1998, in Cleveland, a small community in Blount County, Alabama. He lived with his nephew Huey Eddie Hazelrig and the two were seen together after finishing a work job and returning home about 3:30 p.m. They made a long-distance call, then left reportedly to check on one of Eddie’s antique cars. Their final confirmed sighting was at a tire store on U.S. 231; neither man returned home or was heard from again.

Reports indicate the two may have been carrying roughly $3,000 when they left. That same evening Eddie’s gray 1984 Isuzu pickup was found burning along Warrior Valley Road in Etowah County; investigators reportedly found no one in the vehicle and no blood, but the fire destroyed potential evidence. Family members have long treated the disappearances as connected and have offered a $50,000 reward for information leading to arrest and conviction. The Blount County Sheriff’s Office is listed as the investigating agency and Donald is listed in NamUs as missing with last contact on November 3, 1998.

The sequence of events after the tire-store sighting remains unclear. If anyone knew Donald or Eddie, or has information about their movements on November 3, 1998, please come forward.