Jarrett Brooks was 16 years old, homeschooled with his younger siblings, and known for his big laugh and easy sense of humor. On the morning of July 4, 2023, he left his family's home and hasn't been seen since.
Jarrett had been grounded for damaging a family vehicle. Home security footage showed that around 6:30 a.m., he took a handgun from his father's gun safe and left the house, leaving behind his wallet; his mother had his phone. Around 7 a.m., a neighbor spotted someone matching his description walking quickly across a nearby pasture, heading away from town. Ten minutes later, when the neighbor tried to approach him at a crossroad, he was gone. His mother filed a missing persons report with the Navajo County Sheriff's Office at 12:30 p.m. that day after searching for him around town.
Jarrett's parents, Laura and Brian, have said he was well-trained in firearm safety and had never taken a gun without permission before, and that neither they nor his friends saw any signs he was suicidal. Search dogs lost his scent in the pasture where he was last seen, and after extensive searching turned up nothing further, his parents came to believe he was picked up by someone and may still be alive.
The Brooks family has funded search efforts, printed flyers, and put up billboards along Interstate 40, much of it through community donations and a GoFundMe that helped pay for a private investigator. A combined $75,000 reward is now available: $50,000 for information leading to Jarrett's safe return, and $25,000 for his location and physical recovery.
Investigators believe Jarrett may have traveled to Winslow, Arizona, or to San Antonio, Austin, Temple, or Stamford, Texas. Anyone with information is asked to come forward.
How to report a tip:
Navajo County Sheriff's Office: 928-524-4050
Reward: $50,000 for safe return, plus $25,000 for location and recovery