Kent Jacobs was the firstborn in a family of five kids.

He was raised in Hope Mills, North Carolina and his parents were active in their local community. Kent’s family recalls that he was full of life, incredibly kind,, and would never hurt anyone. Kent loved Harley Davidson motorcycles, rock music, and the Dallas Cowboys. However, if someone tried to harm him or take his money, he would have protected himself. Kent was working as a custodian at a local workshop.

Kent was developmentally disabled, which results in Kent having the mental capacity of a nine-year-old. He was taking the necessary medication at the time of his disappearance. As a result, Kent was living in a group home, but his mother would pick him up on Fridays.

The day Kent went missing.

On March 8, 2002, Kent’s mother, Martha picked Kent up so he could spend the weekend with family. This was part of Kent’s routine, which was incredibly important to him. On Sunday, March 10, Kent went for a walk. It is believed that Kent had approximately $200 on him at the time of his disappearance. He had recently gotten paid at work. He loved to go on long walks by himself but would always return home in time for curfew. The exact time of his curfew remains unknown as some sources cite his curfew as 4 p.m. while others claim it was 6 p.m. When Kent didn’t return home, his mother reported him missing – a week before his birthday.

Kent is described as 5’6” and 150 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. He has a tattoo of a small cross on his upper left arm, and his eyesight is extremely poor. He was last seen wearing a hooded Harley Davidson sweatshirt or jacket, a t-shirt, blue jeans, and black Reebok sneakers. Kent is also a member of the Lumbee Tribe.

Multiple searches were conducted over the years, but no new information came forward. In 2010, a tipster came forward. The tipster claims that Kent is buried in a refrigerator located on Gregory Jones property. Authorities obtained a search warrant, but due to environmental concerns, the search was called off after two days. The refrigerator in question has never been dug up, according to the family.

Despite the fact that Kent had the mental capacity of a child, resources such as the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children were unable to provide assistance. When Kent disappeared, this was before the creation of a “Silver Alert,” which is a public notification to the public for a missing adult with Alzheimer’s, dementia, or other disabilities.

Where the case stands today.

Kent’s case remains unsolved. In 2012, his family had him declared legally deceased. Local law enforcement has teamed up with other agencies to help with the search efforts. Both the local police and his family remain committed to finding Kent. If you have any information regarding Kent Jacobs' disappearance please contact Senior Sgt. R. Westmoreland at 910-677-5596 or CrimeStoppers at 910-483-TIPS (8477).