Dale Eugene Kelley, 21, was last seen May 20, 1981, after telling his girlfriend at 8:00 a.m. he planned to drive from his Carmichael, California, home to Los Angeles to visit her. It is unclear when he actually left home, and he never arrived. He was driving an orange 1976 Toyota Celica, California plate 598TIH.

The Celica was recovered abandoned on June 4, 1981, in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a Texas map, a book on Texas, and a postcard from a Louisiana restaurant inside. There were no signs of Dale, and investigators have been unable to explain how the car traveled thousands of miles from Carmichael to New Orleans. His case is classified as suspicious and foul play is suspected, but no concrete evidence about his fate has been reported.

If anyone has information about Dale Kelley, his travel plans that week, or the vehicle’s movements, contact the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.