Philbert Leo Shorty, 44, was last seen leaving his aunt’s home in Fort Defiance, Arizona, on the afternoon of Thursday, January 28, 2021. He told family he planned to drive his blue 2005 PT Cruiser to Navajo, New Mexico, and possibly on to Tsaile, Arizona. He was wearing a black Carhartt jacket, light blue pants, and brown steel-toed boots.

Three days later, on January 31, 2021, Philbert’s PT Cruiser was found abandoned and stuck in the mud along Navajo Route 12 near Tsaile. The vehicle was empty and there was no sign of Philbert, prompting searches by family members who organized parties, scoured remote canyons of the Navajo Nation, and appealed for help on radio and social media.

A separate investigation later connected Philbert’s disappearance to a violent crime. Authorities say a confession described a killing on January 29, 2021, and that attempts were made to dispose of the body. Philbert’s body has not been recovered, and his family continues to live with unanswered questions.

If anyone knew Philbert, saw his PT Cruiser after January 28, 2021, or has information about that area around Navajo Route 12, please come forward.