Summary
Overview
In June 2024, 67-year-old Daryl 'Bubba' Johnson Sr. vanished from a crowded campsite at Conjas Lake State Park in New Mexico during a birthday celebration. Despite being with over 30 people, Bubba disappeared from his tent overnight without a trace. While police quickly concluded he walked away, his family believes critical inconsistencies in witness accounts, a mysterious phone ping, conflicting relationship details, and strange witness sightings suggest something more sinister. Over a year and a half later, no remains, phone, wallet, or physical evidence has been found.
The Disappearance at Conjas Lake
On June 29, 2024, New Mexico State Police responded to a missing person report at Conjas Lake State Park. Daryl 'Bubba' Johnson Sr., 67, had driven nine hours from Phoenix with friends for a birthday celebration involving over 30 people. His friend Allie checked on him in his tent around 11 PM to midnight on Friday, and he said he was fine. By 7 AM Saturday, Bubba was gone, but his bag remained in the car he arrived in, suggesting he couldn't have driven away.
- Officer Gonzalez arrives at Conjas Lake State Park on June 29, 2024 to investigate Bubba's disappearance
- Bubba, age 67, drove from Phoenix to New Mexico with Vanessa on Friday for Roxanne's birthday celebration
- The camping party consisted of over 30 people, mostly kids under 18
- Allie checked on Bubba in his tent between 11 PM and midnight Friday; he said he was all good
- By 7 AM Saturday, Bubba was missing but his bag was still in Vanessa's car
- Bubba's phone and wallet were reportedly gone with him
" A man who was with a big group at a busy campsite goes into his tent to sleep one night, and by morning, he's just gone. "
" There's no recovered wallet, no cell phone, no physical trace of where this man went. Just one clue that might suggest he never left at all. "
The Midnight Flashlight Incident
After Allie said goodnight to Bubba, neighboring campers reported seeing him at 12:30 AM requesting to borrow a flashlight. Witnesses said he walked south along the lake shoreline, then turned around and headed back north toward his camp. These witnesses thought Bubba seemed drunk or under the influence, though everyone who knew him insisted he never drank or did drugs. This was the last confirmed sighting of Bubba, and what happened after he returned to camp remains a mystery.
- At 12:30 AM, campers two spots south saw Bubba ask to borrow a flashlight
- Bubba walked south along the lake shoreline but then turned around heading back north toward his camp
- Witnesses thought Bubba seemed drunk or under the influence, but friends insist he doesn't drink or do drugs
- Friends suggested witnesses might have mistaken Bubba's normal low, mumbling speech pattern for intoxication
" The campers who knew Bubba insist that he would never go near the water. He's not a fan. Like when they tried getting him to go out on a boat before, he was like, nope, all good right here on dry land. "
📚 8 more sections below
Sign up to unlock the complete summary with all insights, key points, and quotes
Get this summary + all future Crime Junkie episodes in your inbox
100% Free • Unsubscribe Anytime
Sign up now and we'll send you the complete summary of this episode, plus get notified when new Crime Junkie episodes are released—delivered straight to your inbox within minutes.