Jackie Edward Orders Jr. was 40 when he was last seen on November 13, 2003, at a residence on Canoe Creek Way in Morganton, North Carolina. He had packed to travel to Florida with a planned stop in Georgia, bringing medication for high blood pressure and gout, identification, and about $500 in cash. Employed as a pipefitter, he sometimes stayed with friends but kept in touch with family, so his silence after November was out of character.

Family reported him missing on December 23, 2003, after finding his packed suitcase and other personal items still at the residence. Investigators could trace his movements only through November 19, 2003; after that the trail goes cold. Burke County Sheriff’s Office has treated the disappearance as suspicious and has conducted searches in and around Morganton, including using cadaver dogs and following tips over the years.

The case remains active and unsolved, and his family continues to seek answers. If anyone knew Jackie, saw him during mid-November 2003, or has information about his planned travel route, please come forward.