Gene McPherson was last seen driving his silver 1978 Ford pickup at 5:50 p. m. on Saturday, May 23, 1987, in Craig County, Virginia. Days later, Gene's pick-up was located at the I-81 rest area in Radford, Virginia. Gene's wallet was in the grass on the side of I-81 in Virginia. John Edward Colclasure admitted to killing Gene McPherson and was convicted of murder. Colclasure died in jail in 2002 and never disclosed the location of Gene's body.