John was last seen leaving his residence with his brother-in-law, David Martin, in a Dodge Charger. They left to sell a load of blue jeans John's wife received as wages from a store that went out of business to a clothing store in Nauvoo.

The Dodge Charger was found September 13, 1983 near a Jagger Lake strip pit, about 20 miles northwest of Jasper. It had been set on fire twice, once with gasoline and once with diesel fuel. The jeans were found in the car and the keys were still in the ignition. Investigators found no signs of blood or other evidence in or near the car.