Benny Jay Battle Jr., 40, of Old Town, Florida, was last seen on December 10, 2019. His disappearance occurred the night before a scheduled court appearance in Gilchrist County on alleged drug and petty theft charges; he did not attend that hearing and has not been heard from since. Family members describe his lack of contact with his mother as highly uncharacteristic, and he also missed a scheduled appointment to receive a disability payment on December 19, 2019, which increased concern.

Few official details have been released about the ongoing investigation. In January 2022, human remains were found in a wooded area in Old Town; the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the medical examiner’s office were assisting the inquiry. Battle’s family created a Facebook page to try to keep his case in the public eye.

If anyone knew Benny’s routines, who he was with around December 10, 2019, or has information about the remains found in Old Town, please come forward.