Police found their house empty. A bullet hole, fired from inside, was in a window. Nothing else suggested a struggle. Their car, belongings (including money and glasses), and even their valuable Mercedes-Benzes were all left behind. Strangely, their bedroom door was missing. Scratches on the front door hinted it might have been dragged out.

Investigators believe they disappeared around January 27th or 28th, based on newspaper delivery. Hunters reported seeing a blue or green van speeding toward, and then away from, their home around 9:45 pm on January 27th.

The missing bedroom door was eventually found a year later in a barn. A wide search yielded nothing.

John was a wealthy, retired businessman, but he and Faye lived simply and had no known enemies.

Serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to their murder in 1984, claiming he and an accomplice stabbed them and dumped their bodies in Nevada. While police initially considered his confession credible, they never filed charges. Lucas had a history of false confessions, and the Whatleys’ case remains unsolved. Their disappearance is considered suspicious, likely a kidnapping and murder, but the motive is unknown.