Miller County mother continues searching for answers four years after son’s disappearance
Meghan Drakas
MILLER Co. (KMIZ)
A Miller County mother is searching for answers as Friday marks the fourth anniversary of her son’s disappearance.
“It’s difficult, it’s always going to be difficult until we have some answers,” Chyenne Noriega said. “But I have my four other boys that have kind of helped pull me together and keep the family strong.”
David Michael Bowers Jr, center right, with family. (credit: Chyenne Noriega)
18-year-old David Michael Bowers Jr. was last seen on Sept. 12, 2021, in Affton, Missouri.
His mother, Chyenne Noriega said her eldest of five went missing while he was on a trip with some people. She says the group claims their car broke down, and when police arrived at the scene, Bowers ran off.
In August 2024, the Miller County Sheriff’s Office said the case was still an active investigation and it had followed up on many leads, but the agency has not posted about the case since.
Noriega said initially she felt the case fell through the cracks for the Sheriff’s Office, but since last year, she says there has been more communication with their family. She says in the last year, law enforcement has told her one of the people with Bowers that night took and passed a polygraph test.
“I would like to know what he was asked specifically and kind of how that went,” Noriega said. “They have talked to one of the other individuals that kind of held on to the same story. He also agreed to take a polygraph, but he hasn’t been scheduled to do so yet.”
David Michael Bowers Jr. (credit: Chyenne Noriega)
She said if the people who were with her son that night are telling the truth, it gives her some hope.
“Maybe he did, you know, actually run off and could be somewhere,” Noreiga said. “We don’t know if he would willingly be somewhere…it’s St. Louis, so you know, it’s not a very safe place to be, especially if you’re not familiar with [it]. He did suffer with some mental health issues, so it’s very [possible] that he could be out there and not know who he is.”
Bower’s mother says she wants to continue to get the word out about her son’s story because she says there’s a possibility he is still alive.
David Michael Bowers Jr. (credit: Chyenne Noriega)
Friday night, the family held a candlelight vigil at the Bagnell Dam Overlook in Lake Ozark.
“We’ve done these in the past years, and of course, we always hope that we don’t have to do another one,” Noriega said. “But until we have answers, we will continue to keep doing it and bring attention to him.”
His mother said the overlook was a place her son liked to visit. She says she misses hearing her son’s laugh.
“His laugh is so distinguishable from anyone else’s laugh,” Noriega said. “He could be in another room with his brothers and they’d be playing a game or wrestling around or something…just hearing his laugh, I miss it.”
Noriega says she prays every day, and her son is the first thing that comes to mind when she wakes up and the last thing she thinks about at the end of the day.
David Michael Bowers Jr. (credit: Chyenne Noriega)
The Missouri State Highway Patrol said Bowers was last seen in a white and black hoodie, jeans and white tennis shoes. The patrol said he has dreadlocks with blonde and green tints, multiple scars on his arms and several tattoos, including an eye image on his right thumb and a tattoo of Homer Simpson. Noriega said the family has since realized the tattoo is of Bart Simpson, not Homer.
Tattoo of Bart Simpson on the arm of David Michael Bowers Jr. (credit: Chyenne Noriega)
Bowers stands at 5 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs 128 pounds.
ABC 17 News asked the Miller County Sheriff’s Office for an update on the case, but did not hear back.
If you have any information, contact the Miller County Sheriff’s Office at 573-369-2341.