Miller County family searching for answers three years after teen went missing

MILLER Co. (KMIZ)

A Miller County family is searching for answers as Thursday marks three years since 18-year-old David Michael Bowers Jr. went missing. He was last seen on Sept. 12, 2021, in Affton, Missouri.

His mother, Chyenne Noriega, said Bowers was loving, funny and always there to help out in any way he could.

"[He] was always a friend to anyone and everyone," Noriega said. "He loved music, he'd always be listening to music or playing music. He played the saxophone."

Noriega said her eldest of five went missing while he was "with some people who were supposed to be his friends" in Affton.

"The story we're told is that the car broke down," Noriega said. "The police came and he took off running but there was no proof of that at all."

She said in the days following his disappearance she reached out to the person who was considered to be his best friend at the time. He told Noriega he hadn't heard from Bowers.

When he was later confronted by Noriega that he was with Bowers the night he disappeared, the friend told his mother Bowers had run off. Noriega said she's been told the body camera footage from police does not show Bowers at the scene the night he went missing.

"There's a lot of rumors and a lot of 'he said she said' type of stuff but nothing that's been able to lead us to the truth," Norigea said.

She said in the beginning of the case, there wasn't a lot of communication with law enforcement and she felt the case fell through the cracks. But she says in the last six months, she's felt law enforcement has been investigating further.

In August, the Miller County Sheriff's Office said the case was still an active investigation and it has followed up on many leads.

Noriega said law enforcement has still not been able to question one of the men her son was with that night.

"I know that there was some alcohol involved and I know that they were doing some drugs," Noriega said. "All kinds of things have crossed my mind."

Noriega said she wants her son's story to be told and shared to prevent something like this from happening to another child.

"I just want young people to know how important it is for these young people to reach out because there's always somebody that is willing to help them," Noriega said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Bowers was last seen in a white and black hoodie, jeans and white tennis shoes. The Patrol says he has dreadlocks with blonde and green tints, multiple scars on his arms and several tattoos including an eye image on his right thumb and a tattoo of Homer Simpson.

Bowers stands at 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 128 pounds.

His family plans to hold a candle light vigil in Lake Ozark on Union Electric Road at 6:30 p.m. Friday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Miller County Sheriff's Office at 573-369-2341.