The person at the center of this case
Earnest Doss "Earnest Jr." Cagle
Missing Person · Open - Unsolved
76 years waiting · since 1950
Missing Person: Earnest Doss Cagle
Justice for Earnest Doss "Earnest Jr." Cagle — the trail went cold in 1950, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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location
Lead #1Why were the vehicle doors unlocked and windows partially open? Could someone have accessed the vehicle?
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evidence
Lead #2What happened to Earnest Jr.'s distinctive red-and-tan Hopalong Cassidy jacket and other clothing? Has any of his clothing ever been found?
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witness
Lead #3Were there any other patrons or witnesses at DeLay's Tavern that night who might have seen suspicious activity around the vehicle?
On August 27, 1950, two-year-old Earnest Doss "Earnest Jr." Cagle disappeared from his family's vehicle parked outside DeLay's Tavern in Buckhart, Illinois, while his parents were inside. Despite extensive searches of nearby quarries, woods, and fields by authorities and volunteers, no trace of the young boy has ever been found. Over 70 years later, the case remains unsolved, and investigators continue to seek any information about what happened to Earnest Jr. that night.
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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.
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clue
Lead #4The nearby water-filled quarry was searched but nothing was found. Could new search techniques or information reveal anything in that location?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP157175. Missing person: Earnest Doss Cagle.
Last known contact: 1950-08-27 in Buckhart, Sangamon, IL. Circumstances: On August 26, 1950, 2‑year‑old Earnest Doss “Earnest Jr.” Cagle was last seen in the family’s vehicle outside DeLay’s Tavern in Buckhart, Sangamon County, Illinois.
His parents reported that they had periodically checked on him and his 1‑year‑old sibling while inside the tavern. At approximately 2:15 a.m., Earnest Jr.
was discovered missing. The vehicle doors were reportedly unlocked and the windows partially open.
Extensive searches were conducted by local authorities, volunteers, and aircraft. A nearby water‑filled quarry, wooded areas, and surrounding fields were examined, but no trace was found.
Earnest Jr. was described as small for his age, with curly blonde hair and blue eyes.
He was last seen wearing sandals, green overalls, a yellow shirt, and a red‑and‑tan Hopalong Cassidy jacket. No confirmed sightings or evidence have been located since his disappearance.
Demographics: 2 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 2 ft 5 in, 19 lbs, hair: Blond/Strawberry, eyes: Blue.
Clothing and accessories: Clothing: At the time he disappeared, he was wearing sandals, green overalls, a yellow polo shirt, and a red and tan Hopalong Cassidy jacket.. Investigating agency: Sangamon County Sheriff's Office | SG26-10825.
Timeline of Events
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1950-08-26
Last Seen in Vehicle
2-year-old Earnest Jr. was last seen in the family's vehicle outside DeLay's Tavern in Buckhart. Parents reported periodically checking on him and his 1-year-old sibling while inside the tavern.
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1950-08-27
02:15Discovered Missing
At approximately 2:15 a.m., Earnest Jr. was discovered missing from the vehicle. The doors were unlocked and windows partially open.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:August 26, 1950
Last Updated:June 11, 2026
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Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 2177536840
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Case Information
Incident:August 26, 1950
Last Updated:June 11, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 2177536840
You can remain anonymous