Cause of Death Revealed for Chance Englebert, the Young Father Who Vanished During a Family Visit and Was Found Years Later in a National Park
For more than four years, the family of Chance Englebert lived in a painful, suspended reality — a place between hope and heartbreak, clinging to the belief that somehow, somewhere, the young father they loved would come home. His disappearance in 2019 gripped not only his loved ones but also a wide circle of community members, volunteers, and strangers who followed every update, hoping for resolution. Now, with the discovery and identification of skeletal remains found near Nebraska’s Scotts Bluff National Monument, that resolution has arrived at last, though not in the way anyone prayed for.
Englebert, a former rodeo star, was just 25 years old when he vanished during what was meant to be a simple, peaceful visit with family. He left behind a wife, a newborn son, and a life filled with plans that now remain frozen in time. His disappearance was haunting — the kind of case that left countless unanswered questions in its wake and sparked searches across states, fields, creeks, and miles of hills and farmland. For years, the case remained one of the most talked-about missing-person stories in the region.
And now, according to state authorities, the remains discovered last month near Scotts Bluff National Monument have been officially identified as his. Investigators have also revealed his cause of death, finally answering questions that have lingered since the day he walked away and never returned.
The story of Chance Englebert begins long before his disappearance. Friends describe him as charismatic and hardworking, a young man with deep roots in the rodeo community and a strong, resilient spirit. Born and raised in South Dakota, he grew up on ranches and rode horses with the kind of natural confidence that suggested he belonged to a world shaped by open land, grit, and tradition. He competed in rodeo events throughout his youth, earning respect from those around him and forging friendships that would later become essential in organizing searches when he went missing.
In 2019, Englebert traveled with his wife and their infant son to visit her family in Nebraska. It was meant to be a straightforward weekend trip — nothing unusual, nothing dramatic. But something shifted during the visit. Family members later recounted that he seemed upset after a conversation involving job opportunities and a possible career change. Englebert, known for his independence and pride, reportedly took offense to remarks he interpreted as criticizing his work or financial prospects. The tension was enough that he chose to leave the gathering for a walk to cool off.
It was early evening when he was last seen alive. Witnesses recalled him walking near the small community of Bayard, heading down streets lined with quiet homes, moving toward open areas and farmland beyond. He spoke to his wife on the phone during that walk, telling her he wanted to be picked up. But when she and family members went to find him, he was gone.
From that moment forward, the search for Chance Englebert consumed his family’s life.
Search teams spread across the area, combing fields, ravines, and roadsides. Drones flew overhead. Volunteers on horseback and ATVs covered ground through the night. Police conducted interviews, gathered cellphone data, and reconstructed his last known path. Local residents opened their land to search crews, hoping to help bring answers. But despite a massive effort, no trace of him surfaced. It was as if he had vanished into the landscape — painful, inexplicable, and devastating for those who loved him.
As months turned into years, the mystery deepened. His family never stopped searching, organizing awareness events and maintaining contact with law enforcement. His mother and wife spoke often about how much they believed he would want to come home, how certain they were that he would never willingly abandon his child. The case gained attention from across the country, appearing on missing-persons forums, Facebook groups, and community pages where thousands followed updates.
It wasn’t until October 2024 that hikers near Scotts Bluff National Monument discovered human skeletal remains. The moment authorities revealed the discovery, many who had followed the case felt a chill — it was the closest physical clue that had emerged in years. DNA analysis, dental records, and other forensic examinations were conducted, and the announcement finally came: the remains belonged to Chance Englebert.
The discovery location raised immediate questions. Scotts Bluff National Monument is more than 20 miles from where Englebert was last seen walking. Investigators have not publicly detailed whether they believe he traveled that distance on foot, was transported, or became disoriented and wandered farther than expected. But they have now confirmed the cause of death: exposure to the elements.
Authorities say there is no evidence of foul play.
To Englebert’s family, the confirmation brings a complicated blend of emotions. Relief, heartbreak, closure, and renewed grief all collide in moments like this. They now know what happened. They know where he ended up. They know that after he walked away that evening, he faced the unforgiving conditions of the Nebraska outdoors alone. And they know that their long search, though painful, was not in vain — it has led them to the truth they needed, even if it was not the truth they wanted.
People close to the investigation have explained that cases like this — in rural areas, in unpredictable terrain, in landscapes influenced by weather, wildlife, and time — can remain unsolved for years before someone makes a discovery by chance. The terrain around Scotts Bluff includes rugged hills, steep cliffs, dense vegetation, and wide stretches of ground where a person on foot can easily become lost, misjudging distance or direction. Heat, cold, and exhaustion can quickly overwhelm someone who is upset, disoriented, or without supplies.
Authorities believe Englebert may have wandered farther than expected, possibly trying to return to familiar areas or calm down after the earlier argument. Without water, shelter, or a clear path, exposure can become fatal far more quickly than many realize, especially in shifting temperatures or rough conditions.
While the case is now officially closed from a criminal standpoint, Chance Englebert’s story continues to resonate. His family has expressed deep gratitude to the volunteers who searched tirelessly, to strangers across the country who shared his missing posters, to law enforcement officials who continued pursuing answers, and to the community members who helped keep his name alive.
For many, the story is also a reminder of how quickly a moment of emotional distress can escalate into tragedy — not because of violence or wrongdoing, but because of circumstance and vulnerability. Englebert didn’t leave intending never to return. He left to take a walk, clear his head, and get space. Countless people do the same every day. The heartbreaking difference in his case is that he never found his way back.
His remains will now be returned to his family, bringing an end to one chapter and beginning another — one defined not by searching, but by remembering. His wife and young son, now growing up without him, will carry his story forward. His mother, siblings, and extended family will continue to honor his life, and the rodeo community he once belonged to will remember him as the determined, spirited young competitor he was.
Closure does not erase grief, but it gives a place to begin healing. For four years, the Englebert family lived without answers. Now, they finally have them.
And though the story of Chance Englebert ends in tragedy, it also ends in truth — something his family fought for, prayed for, and never gave up on.
