His family are still searching.
The family of Pastor Roy Whited from DeRossett Church of Christ, who mysteriously disappeared on May 3, has turned to a private investigator for assistance after authorities have been unable to uncover any leads over the past four months.
Lynn Whited, the missing pastor’s brother, recently shared in a GoFundMe campaign aimed at raising funds for the search that they were able to hire a private investigator using donations received from the public.
“We’ve raised just over $7,800 and paid $5,000 as a retainer to the private investigator,” Lynn informed contributors. The goal of the fundraiser is to reach $15,000, and as of Thursday, over $8,900 had been collected.
As reported by WZTV Nashville, Roy Whited was last spotted on May 3 at 4:30 p.m. walking down Lovejoy Road in White County, dressed in cowboy boots. Earlier that day, a Ring doorbell camera captured him arriving at his home. Since then, there have been no sightings of the pastor, who worked as a realtor, auctioneer, and a former state champion basketball coach at White County High School in the late 1990s.
Neighbor Doug Watts became concerned when Pastor Whited missed Sunday service and contacted the authorities two days later. After checking the pastor’s home, Watts found his phone still charging, untouched.
“I called 911 and explained the situation. They responded quickly with a thorough search involving dogs, helicopters, and various departments,” Watts said.
Brad Walker, a close friend and former student of Whited, described him as a larger-than-life figure who had a profound impact on those around him. “He could walk into any room and command attention. He was funny, outgoing, and always made people feel seen,” Walker told Fox Nashville. He expressed deep concern about the unknown circumstances surrounding Whited’s disappearance, saying, “It’s terrifying to think we might never know what happened.”
Attempts to contact Pastor Whited through his church’s listed number led straight to voicemail, with a message indicating he could be busy with real estate clients. Meanwhile, Lynn Whited continues to struggle with the stress and uncertainty, telling WZTV, “I can’t sleep or eat due to the anxiety. Every minute, I wonder where he could be.”