Earnest Thomas Mitchell was 61 when he left his home in Martinsville, Virginia, for a walk on the morning of December 4, 2004. He was last seen at about 11:00 a.m. walking up the street near his residence. An African-American man, he is described as 6 feet 1 inch and about 130 pounds. On that day he wore a long-sleeved white shirt with black stripes, blue pants, and black shoes.

There were no immediate signs of foul play and no indication he intended to leave, yet he never returned. The Martinsville Police Department has kept the case open and the disappearance has been entered into national missing-person databases, but leads have been scarce and the circumstances remain unclear. The family continues to seek answers about that December morning.

If anyone saw Earnest Mitchell on December 4, 2004, or has information about his movements that day, please share what you know.