26-year-old Phillip Shelton was reported missing by his father on July 18, 1991, after he had not been seen or heard from in a few days. Witnesses say Phillip was last seen in the Mountain Home area. Phillip's car was located on an abandoned fire road off Alabama 33. Authorities searched the area where his car was found twice, but did not find anything of interest.

In June of 2003, a skull was discovered in a heavily wooded area about a half mile from Alabama 33 in the Mountain Home area. Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, along with dogs from the HEMSI Search Dog Unit from Huntsville, searched the area and found several other human bones near the skull. An old tennis shoe was also found approximately 100 feet from where the bones were found. It was later determined the bones were those of Phillip Shelton.

According to Lawrence County Sheriff's Office, authorities suspected foul play at the time of Phillip's disappearance and continued to treat the investigaton as a homicide investigation. In 2003, Sheriff Bryan Hill stated there wasa reward of up to $20,000 for information leading ot the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for Phillip's death.