SBI joins search for Brunswick County man missing for over 5 years

BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation has joined efforts to solve the disappearance of a Brunswick County man who has been missing for more than five years.

Authorities announced Tuesday that they are renewing their appeal for information in the case of Artis Bryant, 70, who was last seen on Feb. 26, 2021, in the town of Northwest.

According to investigators, Bryant was last seen at his home on Northwest Road around 9 a.m. that morning. Earlier in the day, he reportedly visited Riegelwood Credit Union at approximately 8 a.m. before stopping at a local gas station, where he purchased cigarettes, a lighter and ice cream.

After returning home, a family member reported seeing Bryant walk past a room inside the residence. When she went to prepare breakfast for him moments later, he had disappeared.

Family members immediately began searching the area, contacting relatives and checking nearby businesses, but Bryant was nowhere to be found.

Bryant is described as an African American man standing about 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing approximately 120 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a black hat, black jacket, dark-colored pants and black shoes.

Despite years of investigative work by the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office and the Northwest Police Department, Bryant’s disappearance remains unsolved. Northwest Police Chief officials have now requested assistance from the SBI in hopes of generating new leads and determining what happened to him.

The Northwest Police Department is scheduled to hold a press conference at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 24, to discuss the case and ongoing investigative efforts.

A reward of $10,000 is being offered for information that helps investigators locate Bryant or determine what happened to him.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Northwest Police Department at 910-540-8914, the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, or the CUE Center for Missing Persons at (910) 343-1131. Tips can also be submitted through the CUE Center’s 24-hour tip line at (910) 232-1687.

Authorities say even the smallest detail could help bring answers to Bryant’s family and move the investigation forward.