Nebraska Skull: Rodeo Star Mystery?

Skeletal remains discovered near Scotts Bluff National Monument in Nebraska are being examined to determine if they belong to Chance Englebe...

Skeletal remains discovered near Scotts Bluff National Monument in Nebraska are being examined to determine if they belong to Chance Englebert, a Wyoming man who vanished six years ago. Englebert, a 25-year-old rodeo enthusiast at the time of his disappearance, was last seen on July 6, 2019, in Gering, Nebraska.

The discovery was announced to Englebert's family on Saturday, sparking renewed hope and anxiety in a case that has remained unsolved for years. A statement released by the "Help Find Chance Englebert" group on Facebook acknowledged the discovery but cautioned against premature conclusions. "At this critical juncture, we need to emphasize that there is no positive identification or additional evidence to confirm that the individual is Chance," the statement read.

Englebert was in Gering, Nebraska, celebrating the Fourth of July holiday with his wife, Baylee, her family, and their young son when he disappeared. He reportedly walked away from his in-laws' residence following an argument.

According to reports, Englebert was last captured on surveillance footage approximately three miles from the Scotts Bluff National Monument. The footage showed him wearing Wrangler jeans and a shirt, along with a trucker's cap.

Ryan Couch, the family's former private investigator, told Cowboy State Daily that he believes the remains are "more than likely" those of Englebert. Couch elaborated, stating that the area where the remains were found was always considered a potential location in the search. "It's an area that myself and many other people have felt that [is where] Chance may have went missing," Couch said. "We’ve always suspected that he could be anywhere from the North Platte River from Five Rocks Road going west out to the Monument area."

The circumstances surrounding Englebert's disappearance remain murky. On the day he went missing, he had been golfing and consuming alcohol with his wife's family. An alleged comment made about his new job reportedly triggered an argument. Englebert allegedly told his wife he wanted to return home, but after she picked him up and drove to her grandparents' house, he decided to leave on foot.

Adding to the complexity, Englebert reportedly contacted a friend, Matt Miller, requesting a ride back to Wyoming. Miller told NewsNation that Englebert "sounded upset" and "wanted to get the heck out of Nebraska." He explained that Englebert said he had a fight with his in-laws and wanted to return to his home in Moorcroft, Wyoming, immediately. However, Miller was unable to provide assistance due to his location four hours away and commitments at a Fourth of July party.

Englebert's mother, Dawn, has previously disclosed that the last communication from her son was an odd text message sent to his aunt. The message consisted of an incomprehensible string of numbers and emojis. She noted that Englebert was not known to use emojis, leading her to speculate that someone else might have been in possession of his phone.

The search for Englebert has been extensive and emotionally taxing for his family. At one point, his grandmother offered a $200,000 reward for information leading to his discovery. The reward expired on December 2, 2023, which would have been Englebert's 30th birthday.

The discovery of the skeletal remains near Scotts Bluff National Monument represents a potential breakthrough in the long-unsolved case. Law enforcement officials are working to identify the remains and determine the circumstances surrounding the individual's death. The Englebert family awaits further information, hoping for closure and answers after years of uncertainty.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information about Chance Englebert's disappearance to come forward. The Scottsbluff County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation and can be contacted with any relevant details.