The person at the center of this case
William Dale Inklebarger
Missing Person · Open
8 years waiting · since 2017
Missing Person: William Dale Inklebarger
Justice for William Dale Inklebarger — the trail went cold in 2017, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🔍
evidence
Lead #1What was the condition of William's belongings in the motel room? Were his personal items still present?
👁️
witness
Lead #2Did motel staff observe William after December 27, 2017, or notice any unusual activity in or around his room?
📞
contact
Lead #3Why did William stop responding to his father's calls and messages when he had always maintained regular contact?
William Dale Inklebarger, a 40-year-old man, went missing in late December 2017 after his father paid for a month-long stay at the Inn of Knoxville motel. The father discovered the room untouched during three visits between January 5-13, 2018, and William never responded to calls or messages despite a lifelong pattern of staying in close contact. The case remains unsolved, with investigators seeking information about what happened to William during his motel stay or immediately after.
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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.
📍
location
Lead #4Did William leave the motel voluntarily, or did something happen to him while staying there?
⏰
timeline
Lead #5What happened during the period between December 27, 2017, and January 5, 2018, when the father first checked on him?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP42550. Missing person: William Dale Inklebarger.
Last known contact: 2017-12-27 in Knoxville, Knox, TN. Circumstances: The subject (William Inklebarger) was last seen by his father on 12/27/17, after his father paid for him to stay at the Inn of Knoxville (Motel)from 12/27/17-01/27/18.
The father also paid for minutes on the subject's cell phone from 12/-27-17-01-27-18. The subject did not call or respond to any messages left by the father after a number of days.
The father returned to the motel 3 times between 1/05/18 and 1/13/18 and notice that the motel room was left in the same condition as it was on 12/27/17. The father is concerned because the subject has always kept in touch with him and never would have gone a number of days with out communicating with him.
Demographics: 40 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 9 in, 160 lbs, hair: Black, eyes: Hazel.
Investigating agency: Knoxville Police Department | 18-001515.
Timeline of Events
👁️
2017-12-27
Last seen by father
William was last seen by his father on December 27, 2017, after his father paid for his motel stay at the Inn of Knoxville from 12/27/17 to 01/27/18.
🕵️
2018-01-05
First welfare check
Father returned to the motel and found the room in the same condition as on 12/27/17.
🕵️
2018-01-13
Final welfare check
After three visits between January 5-13, 2018, the father confirmed William had not been in the room and was not responding to calls or messages.
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:December 27, 2017
Last Updated:November 1, 2026
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Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8652157000
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Case Information
Incident:December 27, 2017
Last Updated:November 1, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 8652157000
You can remain anonymous