The reward for information in the disappearance nearly 3-½-years ago of a Wyoming man who grew up in the Edgemont area has now increased by a factor of 10 – but only for the next 12 months.
Chance Englebert of Moorcroft, whose 29th birthday was Saturday, was last seen July 6, 2019 as he left his in-laws home in Gering on foot about 7:30 on a Saturday night. Repeated searches and a $20,000 reward have been unsuccessful, so now his grandmother, Linda Kluender has raised the reward by $200,000.
There is a deadline for the additional money – December 3, 2023, Chance’s 30th birthday. Kluender says the family believes someone knows something and just hasn’t come forward, so the hope is the combination of more money and the deadline will bring in information that solves the mystery of his disappearance.
Kluender says the money came from a recent inheritance. Her husband told her to buy anything she wanted, but she realized all she wanted was for Chance to be found and for the family get peace of mind by learning what happened to him.”
The family is also launching a public awareness campaign in two weeks with digital billboards detailing the increased reward going up outside the Uptown Scottsbluff mall the week of the 18th.
Chance Englebert was later identified on video cameras in nearby Terrytown, and his cell phone pinged near a tower by Western Travel Terminal. An incoherent text message was the last anybody has seen or heard from him.
Multiple searches, large and small, some organized by authorities and others by friends and family were conducted over many months but failed to turn up any new leads on his possible whereabouts.
Gering police investigators say the case remains active, but they haven’t received any new solid leads to follow up since the weekend of his disappearance.
Kluender and investigators urge anyone who has information on what happened to Chance Engelbert to contact the Gering Police Department at 308-436-5088.