The next day, his girlfriend received a letter from him. He said he’d been struggling for two years and was leaving, possibly forever. He asked her to forward the letter to his father. A few days later, she got another letter from Portland, Maine – a 700-mile drive. He described camping there and said he’d “made a mess of things,” hinting that he might be dead in a couple of days. This letter was signed with his initials, which he rarely used.

His girlfriend believed the “mess” was his family. His parents divorced years ago, and recently his mother moved away, his sister went to graduate school, and his friends went off to college or the military. His life was changing drastically.

Police searched, but found nothing until November 1991, when his car was found abandoned near Millinocket Lake, Maine. His wallet and keys were locked inside, but his backpack, camping gear, a gun, and bike were gone. His sleeping bag and tent showed up in a trash bin months later, and his bike was found thrown over an embankment the following year. The gun has never been found.

Jacoby loved the outdoors and sports, and had no history of drugs or alcohol. He’d just graduated high school and planned to play college football. His family was shocked by his disappearance and unaware of any problems he was facing.

One theory is he went hiking on the Appalachian Trail, nearby. There were possible sightings, but nothing confirmed. Despite extensive searches, his body has never been found. His case remains a mystery, and his family still hopes he’s alive.