Hiker, Who Went Missing with His Dog in the Outer Banks, Is Believed to Be Dead as Family Says He Has ‘Terminal Illness’

A North Carolina hiker who vanished with his dog in the Outer Banks is now believed to have died after his belongings were discovered near the coast.

Chris Palmer, 39, was reported missing earlier this month. Two weeks later, his father, Bren Palmer, said in a Facebook post on Jan. 24 that the family had made the “difficult decision” to end active search efforts.

“We recently learned that Christopher was facing a terminal illness,” Bren wrote. “Knowing this has helped us understand the choices he made. Christopher loved the outdoors and valued his independence. The treatments ahead would have taken much of that away, and he did not want that future for himself.”

Bren added that the family believes Chris “perished in the sea” after personal items were found near the coastline.

“As heartbreaking as this is, we have found a measure of peace in that understanding,” he wrote. “We are deeply proud of the man Christopher was, and we hope his story brings awareness to the emotional and mental burdens people can face during serious medical challenges.”

He also expressed gratitude to those involved in the search effort.

“We would like to thank the United Cajun Navy and every volunteer, first responder, and community member who searched for our son,” Bren said. “It has been profoundly humbling to see so many people care for someone they never met. Our family is at peace and asks that Christopher’s memory and the safety of others be respected as we seek closure.”

The statement comes days after Chris was officially declared missing along with his German shepherd after his truck was found on a North Carolina beach on Jan. 12, according to the National Park Service. He had last contacted his family three days earlier.

In a Jan. 20 news release, officials said, “Palmer is believed to be traveling with his German shepherd and may still be in the area.”

The National Park Service later shared that investigators reviewed Dare County traffic camera footage and believe Palmer’s truck was in the county as early as the afternoon of Jan. 9. Footage from that time showed a blue-and-white kayak in the back of the vehicle, though the kayak was not there when the truck was later found on the beach.

Earlier, on Jan. 19, Bren said his son had recently traveled to the Smoky Mountains with his dog Zoey to camp.

“He does alot of camping in the national forests,” he wrote. “He lets us know when and where he is going and when he is expected to return.”

Bren said he had been in frequent contact with Chris through Jan. 9, but that his son reported the signal was too spotty to talk. He also noted the truck was found “hours away in the opposite direction he was headed.”

“The National Park Service are currently searching for him with teams and infrared drones near buxton,” he wrote at the time. “Im [sic] asking for prayers that he is found safe and send this to friends you might know in the mention areas.”