Case Details

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This person was missing Missing Since 02/15/2008

Missing Since:

Missing Since 02/15/2008

Missing From:

Missing From Snowflake, Arizona

Classification:

Classification Endangered Missing

Gender:

Male

Race:

Race White

Date of Birth:

Date of Birth 12/09/1956 (68)

Age:

Age 51 years old

Height and Weight:

Height and Weight 5’10, 180 pounds

Clothing/Jewelry Description:

Clothing/Jewelry Description A black leather jacket, jeans, black leather boots, a black leather cap and a black fanny pack.

Distinguishing Characteristics:

Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Brown hair, blue eyes. Michael has a surgical scar on his left shoulder. He wears wire-framed eyeglasses.

Details of Disappearance:

Michael Tapley, a school bus driver in Snowflake, Arizona, vanished. His coworker reported him missing on February 18, 2008, after he didn’t return to work following a holiday weekend. The last anyone saw him was February 15th. He’d told coworkers he was going elk scouting.

His wife, Gina, couldn’t be found initially. She contacted his family later and gave a story about Michael leaving them unexpectedly on February 20th (two days *after* he was reported missing) to go to a casino in Kansas City. She claimed he let her drive his truck, which she then gave away in Missouri. The truck had been recently repaired in Kansas, and a mechanic confirmed Gina was alone, implying Michael wasn’t with her. The truck was packed full. Also, Gina wasn’t allowed to drive the truck; it was specifically against his insurance policy. A note supposedly transferring ownership of the truck was signed differently than Michael usually signed his name.

However, Michael’s family doubts Gina’s story. He wasn’t a gambler, and casino security footage doesn’t show him. His family and the police suspect Gina isn’t telling the truth, but there’s not enough evidence to charge her. They believe something happened to Michael *before* February 18th.

Michael and Gina had a troubled marriage and financial difficulties. He’d even gotten a restraining order against her in the past, though they reconciled. He had adult children from a previous marriage. The couple lived between Mesa and Snowflake, Arizona, where they had a cabin.

Michael’s disappearance remains a mystery.

Agency:

Navajo County Sheriff’s Office

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