The person at the center of this case
Bobby Linwood Barbers
Missing Person · Open
16 years waiting · since 2010
Missing Person: Bobby Linwood Barbers
Justice for Bobby Linwood Barbers — the trail went cold in 2010, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🔍
evidence
Lead #1Why was the crewman not wearing a life jacket while on watch during night hours?
👁️
witness
Lead #2What were the exact circumstances reported by the crew member who discovered him missing?
💡
clue
Lead #3Were there any signs of struggle, injury, or unusual activity on deck before the disappearance?
Bobby Linwood Barbers, a 54-year-old crew member aboard the fishing vessel Gallant Fox, went missing on July 2, 2010, after falling overboard near Oregon Inlet, North Carolina. He was on watch when crew discovered him missing and reported it to the Coast Guard at 5 a.m.; he was not wearing a life jacket. Despite extensive search efforts by the Coast Guard involving multiple vessels, aircraft, and rescue teams, Barbers was never found, leaving questions about the exact circumstances of his fall and whether additional factors contributed to his disappearance.
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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.
⏰
timeline
Lead #4What was the exact time the crewman was last confirmed to be on watch?
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Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP7646. Missing person: Bobby Linwood Barbers.
Last known contact: 2010-07-02 in Oregon Inlet, Hyde, NC. Circumstances: The Coast Guard received a call at 5 a.m.
from a crewmember aboard the fishing boat Gallant Fox reporting a crewman had fallen overboard. The Coast Guard says the missing crewman was on watch when another member of the crew went to relieve him and couldn't locate the man.
The crewmember was wearing a black t-shirt, denim shorts and no life-jacket. A rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cochito, homeported in Norfolk, Va., a C-130 aircrew and a HH-60T Jayhawk rescue helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., are searching for the man.
Demographics: 54 years, Male, Black / African American. Physical description: 5 ft 9 in, 205 lbs, hair: Black, eyes: Brown.
Clothing and accessories: Clothing: black short sleeved T-shirt, demin shorts. Investigating agency: US Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads | 2010-07-01.
Timeline of Events
👤
2010-07-02
05:00Crewman reported missing overboard
Coast Guard received call at 5 a.m. from Gallant Fox reporting a crewman had fallen overboard. Crew member was on watch when another crew member went to relieve him and could not locate him.
🕵️
2010-07-02
Search and rescue operation initiated
Coast Guard Station Oregon Inlet, Coast Guard Cutter Cochito from Norfolk, C-130 aircrew, and HH-60T Jayhawk helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City launched search operations.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:July 2, 2010 at 5:00 AM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
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Phone: 2522474544
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Case Information
Incident:July 2, 2010 at 5:00 AM
Last Updated:September 26, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 2522474544
You can remain anonymous