HOUSTON COUNTY, Ga. — Dustin Wallace was last seen on Aug. 2, 2021, in the parking lot of a Publix in Perry. He was reported missing a month later, and since then, there's been no sight of him.
Houston County investigators are actively pursuing leads, but so far, they have not been able to find him. According to Connie Wallace, his mother, the uncertainty is a nightmare she endures every day.
"This is something I don't wish on any parent," she said. "It's a nightmare every single day that I wake up. I miss him so much and I can't believe it's been this long."
While investigators do not suspect foul play, they are exploring two main groups connected to Dustin’s disappearance, but would not elaborate further as it is still under investigation.
Captain Matt Moulton of the Houston County Sheriff’s Office said some conversations Dustin had with his mother before he went missing suggest he may have left the area on his own, but they still have no definitive answers.
"It is still very much an active investigation," Moulton said.
Dustin, who was 37 at the time he went missing, was reportedly in recovery from addiction and was making good progress. Connie Wallace recalls her son telling her that he would call or text her after work, a message she clings to as one of their last exchanges.
"He was getting help. I was so proud of him," she said. "He gave his life to Jesus Christ before he went missing. He surprised me with it. But he did it, and I'm so proud of him."
In her backyard, Connie has planted a tree in Dustin’s honor, and she keeps his photos around the house to remind herself to continue searching for answers.
"I pray to God something comes out of it soon," she said. "It just hurts. Every single day it hurts."
Despite the ongoing investigation, the Houston County Sheriff’s Office says they have not seen any evidence of foul play. They say they are committed to solving the case.
"I can promise [Connie] that we will not stop investigating until we can find out where Dustin is or what happened to him," Moulton assured. "We are doing everything we can to find an answer."
Anyone with information regarding Dustin Wallace’s disappearance is urged to contact the Houston County Sheriff’s Office at 478-542-2080.