Mrs. Moore initially thought he’d gone to a friend’s house, but he wasn’t there. She didn’t call the police immediately because she had to borrow a phone and claims she wasn’t allowed to use it until midnight. The police investigation didn’t start until the next morning.

Police initially suspected Kelly wandered off and froze to death, given the cold weather and abandoned mines nearby. However, a thorough search turned up nothing. Mrs. Moore was questioned but maintained her innocence. The police even searched under her porch.

Kelly’s family situation was complicated; his parents were divorced, and his older siblings lived elsewhere due to his mother’s health issues. Some of Kelly’s neighbors had criminal records.

There were later unconfirmed sightings of Kelly in Florida, but he was never found. The case remains unsolved, and the possibility of an abduction is considered. Even though his mother is a person of interest, the police believe someone from the local area was involved in his disappearance.