Heartbreaking update: the discovery of Chris Palmer’s loyal black dog near the abandoned red truck has pushed this mystery into its darkest chapter yet.

NEWLY unearthed surveillance of a missing hiker’s now-abandoned truck has captured a telling detail in his disappearance.

The hunt continues for Chris Palmer, 39, who was declared missing after his Ford F-250 was found on the Outer Banks in North Carolina on January 12.

Chris Palmer, 39, was declared missing after his abandoned truck was found in the Outer Banks in North CarolinaCredit: Facebook/Bren Palmer

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The National Park Service said a kayak was seen in the bed of the truck before his vanished – but it was nowhere to be found on the beachCredit: National Park Service

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The car was left at Cape HatterasCredit: Getty
On Thursday, the National Park Service released a new surveillance image of the truck from January 9 that shows a blue and white kayak in the bed.

The service said that the kayak, along with Palmer and his German Shepard, Zoey, were nowhere to be seen when they found the empty vehicle.

Pings from Palmer’s phone also show it was near Avon on January 10, and near Cape Point on the January 11, which are both in Outer Banks.

Now, they believe Palmer could still be near where his truck was discovered, which was stuck on the beach at Cape Hatteras National Seashore.National Guard activated as 8 states declare winter storm emergency

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It’s been weeks since Palmer’s family has heard from him, with his heartbroken father Bren Palmer saying they hadn’t talked since January 9.

The adventurer was in the midst of a road trip through National Parks in the Southeast, having cruised through Tennessee and Virginia before stopping by the North Carolina beaches.

In an emotional Facebook post, Bren said he was shocked to learn of the truck’s location, as his son had just told him he was heading to Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia.

Palmer was declared missing by authorities in Arkansas, where he’s from, on January 16, when no one claimed the abandoned car.

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Now, the NPS is urgently asking for information from the public, especially boaters who have been near Cape Hatteras.

Palmer has been described as standing at 5 feet 6 inches with blue eyes and strawberry-blond hair.

Bren said that his son was normally communicative, and always kept them in the loop when he was traveling.

“I’m asking for prayers that he is found safe,” wrote the worried dad.

Timeline of Chris Palmer’s disappearance

January 9 – Palmer texts his dad and says he is heading to Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia
January 12 – Palmer’s abandoned Ford F-250 is found at Cape Hatteras in the Outer Banks of North Carolina
January 16 – Palmer is declared missing by authorities in Arkansas, where he is from
January 22 – Officials release new surveillance that shows a kayak used to be in the bed of Palmer’s truck

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Palmer was with his German Shepherd Zoey, who is also missingCredit: National Park Service
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Palmer appeared to go on a camping trip with his dad a year before he vanishedCredit: Facebook/Bren Palmer