SPARTA, Tenn. (WKRN) — Friday, Jan. 3, 2025 marks eight months since the disappearance of a Sparta preacher.
As precious time ticks on, Roy Whited’s brother and Middle Tennessee law enforcement agencies are still searching for any leads related to his unusual disappearance.
“It’s just tormenting; that’s all I think about anymore,” Roy Whited’s younger brother, Harold Lynn Whited, said. “What could’ve happened? How did it happen? Where did he go?”
For months, Harold has searched for his younger brother Roy. He’s followed up on all tips and passed out more than 100 yard signs across four counties. He’s even offering a reward for information. However, since his disappearance in May, the leads have gone dry.
“Everybody is still looking everywhere they can possibly look to try to find out what happened,” White County Sheriff Steve Page said. “And so far, nothing has really [come] up.”
On May 3, a neighbor’s surveillance camera captured the moment Roy’s truck pulled into his driveway — but that was the last time anyone saw him. It wasn’t until Sunday that his congregation reported him missing after Roy never showed up to preach.
At Roy’s home, law enforcement found his vehicle and phone. Sermon notes were laid out on the table. Since then, search parties have not found any clues leading back to him.
“We don’t know whether he is dead or alive,” Page said. “We don’t see anything that leads us to believe, at this time, that there’s foul play. You know the TBI [Tennessee Bureau of Investigation] is involved, Putnam County has helped us.”
Harold called Roy a pillar of the Sparta community. He’s a father of two, a pastor at DeRossett Church of Christ, a real estate agent and an auctioneer. Roy’s also a former teacher and state-winning championship basketball coach at White County High School.
“With me, it’s personal,” Page said. “Roy, like I said, was a friend of mine...We want to do everything we possibly can to bring justice to whatever’s happened here. The only thing we know to do is keep looking; I’ll never give up looking. I will look until the day I die.”
Harold told News 2 that he still hopes his brother is alive and well somewhere.
“I trust in God that God has got him protected and that he is going to keep him safe,” Harold said.
The reward for any information leading to the discovery of Roy is set at $15,000. If you have any information, call the White County Sheriff’s Office or the TBI. You can also text Harold’s tip line at 334-657-4155.
