Things were unusual inside the house: the gun cabinet was open, a safe was open and its contents scattered, beds were unmade, and a coffeepot was nearly dry. Shelly’s cigarettes were left behind, which was odd because she always took them with her. Tarps covering John’s Corvette were also missing from the garage.

John was upset because his twin sister had just died. He and Shelly were supposed to go to the sister’s funeral that evening, but never showed up. The kids waited at their aunt and uncle’s, and reported their parents missing in the early hours of the next day.

Their truck was later found abandoned, locked, ten miles away. Their cell phone was inside, along with the Corvette’s tarps and a tire for a semi-truck. A check for $1000, written by Shelly, was cashed that morning at a bank. A bank teller said she saw John driving, Shelly in the passenger seat, and an unknown man in the back.

The Markleys’ home was paid off and they had a full freezer. A coworker claimed to have held them for ransom, but was later arrested for extortion, unrelated to the disappearance.

The case remains unsolved, and police suspect foul play.