NC Wanted: Trail remains cold for two missing boys

The trail remains cold in the search for 4-year-old Buddy Myers, who disappeared from a Sampson County home in 2000. Thirty-nine years ago, investigators felt the same frustration in the search for another missing boy.

In the winter of 1976, more than two miles from where Myers disappeared, 2-year-old Bruce Shearin vanished from a front porch and was never heard from again.

Mary Peterson, who still lives down the road from where Shearin was last seen, was saddened when she heard about Myers.

"Well, it brought back a lot of memories because this happened under our noses, and it's a mystery," she said.

In 1976, hundreds of searchers combed the woods and ponds in search of Shearin. Investigators dealt with all kinds of rumors. They also enlisted the help of psychics.

Investigators don't believe the two case are connected, but there are similarities. In both cases, the boys disappeared with their dogs.

Captains Landis Lee and Gerald Tadlock of the Sampson County Sheriff's Office helped in both searches.

“It was believed that it was family connected with the child being missing,” Landis said. “I think it’s very frustrated for law enforcement because they did everything possible back in ’76, just like law enforcement here in county has done in 2000.”

The two boys have been missing now 15 and 38 years, respectively.

If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Buddy Myers or Bruce Shearin, call 1-866-43-wanted.