The person at the center of this case
Kelly Dae Wilson
Missing Person · Open
1 year waiting · since 2025
Kelly Dae Wilson
Justice for Kelly Dae Wilson — the trail went cold in 2025, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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evidence
Lead #1Grainy surveillance video from the bank shows someone made the video store deposit that night, but it remains unclear whether it was Kelly Wilson.
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suspect
Lead #2Michael Bybee confessed to slashing Kelly's car tire and pleaded guilty to a minor charge, but was cleared of involvement in her disappearance. Why were her tires slashed twice in days?
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person
Lead #3Chris Denton, Kelly's boyfriend at the time, was considered a person of interest but never charged. He maintained his innocence until his death from cancer in 2004.
On January 5, 1992, Kelly Dae Wilson, 17, disappeared from Gilmer, Texas after leaving her workplace to deposit money at a bank—her car was found with a flat tire, belongings inside, but keys missing. The case sparked a satanic cult panic that led to charges against 10 people including the lead investigator, but all murder charges were dismissed in 1995 due to lack of physical evidence. Thirty-three years later, the case remains unsolved with no confirmed leads, making Kelly one of East Texas's most enduring mysteries.
Case
#42
Gilmer Police Department, Upshur County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
💡
clue
Lead #4Kelly's keys were missing from her car despite her belongings remaining inside—suggesting either a forced departure or planned removal by someone else.
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timeline
Lead #5No physical evidence, forensic evidence, or confirmed sightings exist after 8:30 p.m. on January 5, 1992—how did a 17-year-old vanish without a trace in a small town?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Timeline of Events
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1992-01-05
20:30Last Seen Leaving Workplace
Kelly was seen at approximately 8:30 p.m. leaving Northeast Texas Video with manager Joe Henry to go to the bank to deposit nightly funds.
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1992-01-06
06:00Vehicle and Belongings Found
Kelly's car was discovered at her workplace with a flat tire. Her belongings were inside the car but her keys were missing.
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1994-01-01
Satanic Cult Indictments
48 indictments were issued against 10 people, including lead investigator Sgt. James Brown, for child abuse and charges related to Wilson's presumed murder during alleged satanic rituals.
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1995-01-01
Charges Dismissed
All murder and kidnapping charges were dismissed and 45 of 48 child abuse indictments were dropped due to lack of physical evidence.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:January 5, 1992 at 8:30 PM
Last Updated:July 8, 2025
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Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 903-843-5545
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Case Information
Incident:January 5, 1992 at 8:30 PM
Last Updated:July 8, 2025
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 903-843-5545
You can remain anonymous