Brian vanished without a trace during a trip to his hometown, leaving behind essential items like his medication, which he needed due to health issues including a heart condition, severe arthritis, narcolepsy, and insomnia. His family found his bed covers turned back and his belongings untouched, suggesting he did not leave voluntarily.
Brian was 39 years old at the time of his disappearance. He had blond hair, blue eyes, and weighed about 140 pounds. He was 5'7" tall.
The initial investigation stalled because the police did not take a missing persons report immediately, requiring a 72-hour wait. They also did not enter Brian's information into the state and national database, and there were inconsistencies and lack of thoroughness in the police reports.
In December 2009, Brian's car was found in Chattanooga, Tennessee, about 125 miles away from Carrollton, Georgia. The car had been parked on a residential street for weeks, with the key still in the ignition.
The dogs trained to detect human remains alerted in the same exact spot outside the boat house on Brian's parents' property, suggesting the presence of human remains. However, a thorough search of the area, including the boat house and the lake, did not yield any findings.
The license plate being run in Coweta County in October 2009 was significant because it indicated that Brian's car was in the area three weeks after his disappearance. This information was not communicated to the Carrollton Police Department, potentially delaying the investigation.
Brian's family posted flyers, created a Facebook page, contacted friends and relatives, drove around Carrollton looking for him, checked properties he was known to frequent, and offered a $10,000 reward. They also ran TV ads and recently started a GoFundMe to raise money for billboards to generate new leads.
*This episode was originally released in May 2023, and is one of sixteen episodes from the archives we'll be bringing you every Thursday, now through end of year... for good reason! ;) We highly recommend you listen to each episode between now and end of 2024, and follow us on Instagram @crimejunkiepodcast so you're the first to know what's coming next! Brian Wehrle vanished without a trace during a trip to his hometown of Carrollton, Georgia. Everyone suspects foul play, but no one knows what could have happened to him. And nearly 14 years after his disappearance, his family is hoping someone out there has the information they need to bring Brian home.
Check out the following links for guides and tip sheets on what to do when a loved one goes missing:
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