Daughenbaugh was last seen packing his belongings into his vehicle in North Carolina on January 5, 1987. He was heading to Houston, Texas, where he planned to contact a friend and possibly find a job driving tractor-trailers. Daughenbaugh never arrived in Texas. His 1973 gold-painted Chevrolet truck was found abandoned at the Dixie Truck Stop off of Interstate 77 in Charlotte, North Carolina in March 1987. None of Daughenbaugh's belongings were discovered in the vehicle and there was no trace of Daughenbaugh himself. The keys were still in the ignition at the time of discovery. Daughenbaugh has a history of criminal behavior, but there has been no activity under his name since his disappearance. Foul play is suspected in this case.