Dan Davis, 59, disappeared after a Nov. 24 car crash in Blue Island, Illinois. Family members say bodycam footage shows a facial droop, a trip and an inside-out sweatshirt, and officers later found his apartment with the refrigerator door and windows open — clues they believe point to a medical episode. Search-and-rescue teams and volunteers have combed nearby woods and waterways; a GoFundMe has raised more than $24,000 as the family continues the search.
Missing Illinois Father: Inside-Out Sweatshirt and Open Fridge Seen as Clues in Dan Davis Disappearance
Chicago Police Department; Courtesy of Wendy DavisDan Davis; Wendy and Dan Davis.
Dan Davis, 59, has been missing since a Nov. 24 car crash in Blue Island, Illinois. His daughter and family say new details — including bodycam footage showing a drooping face, a stumble and an inside-out sweatshirt, plus his apartment being found with the refrigerator door and windows open — suggest he may have been disoriented by a medical episode, possibly a stroke, before he vanished.
What Happened
On the night of Monday, Nov. 24, deputies responded to a single-vehicle crash involving Daniel Davis III. Paramedics evaluated him at the scene; the Cook County Sheriff’s Office says Davis refused medical treatment. Because his vehicle was undrivable, officers gave him a ride to his workplace, the concert venue 115 Bourbon Street.
At about 1:15 a.m. the following morning, Dan was last seen leaving 115 Bourbon Street wearing a black baseball hat, a black Harley-Davidson jacket, a red sweatshirt and black jeans, according to a Nov. 27 alert from the Chicago Police Department. He was reported missing that same day.
Courtesy of Wendy DavisWendy with her dad, Dan.
Family Concerns and Evidence
Dan’s daughter, 27-year-old freelance photographer Wendy Davis, obtained body-worn camera footage from the officer who dropped him off and posted it on the family’s “Find Dan Davis” Facebook page. Family members say the video shows behavior out of character: a slight facial droop, a trip over a curb and the red sweatshirt being worn inside out. They point to these details as possible signs of a stroke or other sudden medical event.
When police later searched Dan’s apartment, the family says the refrigerator door was left open and several windows were ajar despite cold November weather. Separate surveillance footage also appears to show Dan trying to enter neighbors’ apartments before the crash. Wendy and her family believe these clues, combined with the crash, indicate he may have been confused or suffering a medical episode before and after the collision.
“The accident definitely didn't make it better,” Wendy says. “He probably got a concussion in the accident, too. We don't know for sure.”
Search Efforts and Community Response
Search-and-rescue teams and volunteers have conducted extensive searches of nearby woods and bodies of water. In early January, two professional search-and-rescue teams from Ohio joined local law enforcement and used canines to search for human scent, remains and personal items; those efforts have not produced confirmed signs of Dan.
Courtesy of Wendy DavisDan Davis.
The family’s “Find Dan Davis” Facebook group, organized by Wendy’s mother, Jenn Masuka, has grown to more than 42,000 members. A GoFundMe to cover search expenses had raised more than $24,000 as of Jan. 13. Wendy says the outpouring of support from strangers and other families of missing people has given her hope as she continues the search.
Friends describe Dan as a steady, routine person who worked for nearly 30 years as head lighting designer at 115 Bourbon Street and rarely missed work. His family says he had no known history of medical problems or of disappearing prior to this incident.
Next Steps
Family members continue to coordinate searches and share updates online while urging anyone with information to contact local authorities. Wendy says she remains focused on finding her father and bringing him home: “I can't be crumbling. I have to stay focused.”
Help us improve.
