5 Shocking New Details In The Chance Englebert Case: Remains Identified And Cause Of Death Revealed

The six-year mystery surrounding the disappearance of Chance Englebert, the 25-year-old Wyoming cowboy, has finally reached a tragic and definitive conclusion. For years, the case captured national attention, evolving from a simple missing person report into a massive, multi-state search effort. The latest and most crucial development, confirmed in late 2025, provides long-awaited answers for his family, but also introduces new, chilling questions about the final moments of his life. This article compiles the most recent updates, details on the discovery, and the official cause of death.

As of December 18, 2025, the investigation has shifted dramatically from a search operation to a forensic analysis of a death. Skeletal remains found in a rural area of Nebraska were positively identified as Chance Leslie Englebert, bringing a heartbreaking end to a case that spanned over half a decade. The confirmation of his death, coupled with the determined cause, has closed one chapter while opening another in the ongoing pursuit of a complete understanding of the events that transpired after he vanished from Terrytown, Nebraska, in 2019.

Chance Englebert: Biography and Disappearance Timeline

Chance Leslie Englebert was a young husband, father, and former rodeo star whose life was centered in Moorcroft, Wyoming, before his sudden disappearance. His story is a poignant one, characterized by a seemingly routine disagreement that escalated into a national mystery. Understanding his background and the timeline of his last known movements is essential to grasping the complexity of his case.

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• Full Name: Chance Leslie Englebert
• Age at Disappearance: 25 years old
• Hometown: Moorcroft, Wyoming
• Family Status: Husband and father of an infant son
• Occupation: Former rodeo star; recently took a new job in Moorcroft
• Date of Disappearance: July 6, 2019
• Location Last Seen: Terrytown/Gering, Nebraska
• Circumstances: He walked away from a relative's house around 7:30 p.m. following an argument with his wife's family
• Intended Destination: He reportedly planned to walk to Torrington, Wyoming

The night of July 6, 2019, began with a family disagreement at a home in Terrytown, Nebraska. Englebert, attempting to "blow off some steam," decided to leave the residence on foot. He was last spotted on surveillance footage near a local convenience store, wearing a dark-colored shirt and jeans. This seemingly minor incident initiated a massive search involving the Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI, and countless volunteer search efforts across Nebraska and Wyoming. The initial search focused heavily on the route between Terrytown and Torrington, Wyoming, but yielded no immediate clues to his whereabouts for years.

The Discovery: DNA Confirmation and Cause of Death

The most significant and long-awaited breakthrough in the Chance Englebert case occurred in late 2025, over six years after he was last seen. Skeletal remains were discovered in a rural area near Gering, Nebraska, specifically near the Scotts Bluff National Monument. This discovery immediately fueled speculation that the missing Moorcroft man had finally been found, and subsequent DNA testing confirmed the identity.

The identification of the remains as Chance Leslie Englebert marked the end of the missing persons investigation. However, the new chapter focused on the cause of death introduced a shocking and tragic element to the story. Law enforcement officials confirmed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma. This crucial detail suggests that his death was not simply an accident or exposure, but rather a result of a forceful impact. While the official manner of death (homicide, accident, or suicide) has not always been immediately clarified alongside the cause, the mention of blunt force trauma instantly raises new questions about how he died and whether foul play was involved.

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The location of the discovery—a rural area in Nebraska—is significant. The remains, along with some of his belongings, were found at Scotts Bluff National Monument, an area that had been searched previously. The environment is rugged, and the time lapse between his disappearance in 2019 and the discovery in 2025 made the identification process challenging, relying heavily on forensic science and DNA analysis. The confirmation provided a definitive answer to the question of whether Chance was alive, allowing his family to finally begin the grieving process after years of uncertainty.

Lingering Questions and the Long Search for Justice

Despite the positive identification of Chance Englebert's remains and the determination of blunt force trauma as the cause of death, several critical questions remain unanswered, fueling ongoing public and investigative interest. The primary focus for law enforcement now shifts to determining the exact circumstances leading to the blunt force trauma and understanding the events of that fateful night in July 2019.

The Timeline of Events

Investigators spent years tracing the steps of the missing cowboy. The initial timeline placed him walking away from the family home in Terrytown, Nebraska. New leads in 2024 involving his potential timeline that night were unearthed before the discovery of the remains. The gap between his last sighting and the location of his remains near Scotts Bluff National Monument suggests a journey, whether on foot or by other means, that is still being pieced together. Authorities have yet to release a definitive narrative explaining how he traveled from the residential area to the remote discovery site.

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The Role of the Family Disagreement

The fact that Chance walked away following a disagreement with his wife's family has always been a central element of the case. While there is no public evidence suggesting the family was involved in his disappearance, the context of the argument is a key piece of information for investigators attempting to establish his emotional state and intentions when he left. The family, including his wife and mother, have been strong advocates for finding him throughout the years, keeping the case in the public eye through media appearances and organizing extensive search efforts.

Topical Authority and Investigative Entities

The long-running investigation involved numerous agencies, demonstrating the complexity of the case. The Scotts Bluff County Sheriff’s Office led the local efforts, with significant assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The involvement of a former FBI profiler and other forensic experts highlights the difficulty authorities faced in solving the mystery. The public advocacy of his family and the widespread media coverage, including true crime podcasts and news segments on NewsNation Live, maintained the necessary pressure and topical authority to ensure the case was never forgotten.

The confirmation of Chance Englebert's death is a somber milestone. The focus now turns to the final, necessary step: determining the full story behind the blunt force trauma and providing true closure for the family of the beloved Moorcroft cowboy.