Muscogee Nation Authorities Readied To Begin Searches for Missing Man— 2 Years Without A Trace

Law enforcement, cadaver dogs, and volunteers will search a property in Creek County next Tuesday for a man who has been missing for two years.

Muscogee Creek Nation Lighthorse Investigators say Derek Reece was last seen alive in October of 2022 at a boy's home near Mounds, where he was working.

Reece’s sister, Tayler Evans, says she's had nothing but questions for the last two years, with no answers. She's holding onto hope that her brother is alive somewhere, but she says that no matter the outcome, she just wants to know where he is.

“I just feel like it's been too long. There was a moment where I felt like OK, maybe he is just out there, hiding, not wanting to be around,” said Evans.

Evans says no one has seen or heard from her brother, Derek Reece, in two years. She says the two of them were close, and then one day, he just stopped texting back.

“This is Thanksgiving. You could always catch him in a collared shirt. Collared shirt, baggy pants, and skater shoes,” said Evans, describing her brother. “He's literally, like, the sweetest guy ever. He skateboards. He's the best artist.”

Evans and Muscogee Nation Lighthorse Police investigators say Reece was last seen at a boy's home where he completed a nine-month rehab program and then worked there for another year. Reece stopped showing up for work, left his belongings behind, and disappeared. Evans says she didn't report him missing until this year because she believed he was OK.

“I'm the person who listens to everybody else, and they were telling me he was probably out with his old friends, just out there doing his old thing, doesn't want to be found, he's probably doing drugs again, and I was like OK you're probably right, but then it was just too long. I just feel like it's not that anymore,” said Evans.

Investigators don't suspect anything criminal at this time but say it's tough when so much time has passed. But they say nothing will deter them from doing everything possible to find Reece. Evans is grateful investigators are looking for her brother and plan to search the property for him.

“If he's found, I'll be like OK that's my answer. Like, I just need answers, and I feel like somebody has them,” said Evans.

The search will start Tuesday morning with Oklahoma Task Force 1 cadaver dogs, and then several Muscogee Nation agencies and volunteers will search the property.