CHATTANOOGA, TN — Chattanooga police are trying to find a 57-year-old man who has not been heard from since June, when his family says he was planning to travel to Ohio. Investigators are asking for help locating Heath Haliburton, whose disappearance has prompted a public search across the area.
Police said Haliburton may still be in the Chattanooga region. Family members told authorities they have not had contact with him for months, and officers are now urging anyone who has seen him or knows where he may be to come forward.
Family says contact stopped in June during trip to Ohio
According to the family’s account, Haliburton was trying to make his way to Ohio when communication ended in June. That gap in contact is what led to the missing-person search now being handled by the Chattanooga Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances surrounding his disappearance. What they have confirmed is that the case remains active and that officers are relying on tips from the public to help track his movements after June.
With no confirmed sightings publicly announced, police are focusing on whether Haliburton may have remained in or returned to the Chattanooga area. That possibility is one reason the department is continuing to circulate his description and vehicle information.
Vehicle details could help investigators narrow the search
Police say Haliburton drives a black Jeep Cherokee with Tennessee license plate BTT4351. Investigators included the vehicle description in hopes that someone may recognize it if it has been parked, moved, or spotted locally.
They also said he is a Black man with brown eyes and black hair. Haliburton is 5 feet 6 inches tall and has a cross tattoo on his left bicep, details that could help witnesses identify him if they encounter him in public.
In missing-person cases, even small observations can matter, especially when months have passed without contact. Police are asking residents, motorists, and business owners to pay attention to the vehicle and any person matching his description.
Police say he may still be in the Chattanooga area
Although Haliburton was reportedly headed for Ohio, Chattanooga police say he could still be somewhere in the city or surrounding area. That possibility keeps the search local even as the family continues to wait for news.
Officials have not said whether they have identified any leads pointing to a specific neighborhood or destination. For now, the department appears to be broadening the appeal, hoping someone who saw Haliburton in recent months will recognize him from the description released to the public.
The case underscores how missing-person searches often depend on community awareness long after the initial report. A sighting, a vehicle note, or a conversation remembered at the right time can become important evidence for investigators.
What Haliburton looks like and how to report a sighting
Police describe Haliburton as a Black man with brown eyes and black hair. He stands 5 feet 6 inches tall and has a cross tattoo on his left bicep, features that could help someone confirm an identification before calling authorities.
Anyone with information about his location is asked to contact the Chattanooga Police Department at 423-698-2525. Officers want tips from anyone who may have seen him personally or noticed his black Jeep Cherokee with Tennessee tag BTT4351.
Authorities have not announced any additional public instructions beyond the phone number. For now, the department is asking the community to help close the gap between the last known contact in June and wherever Haliburton may be now.
Public tips remain the main path forward in the search
With no new public details about where Haliburton may have gone, the search depends heavily on community reporting. Police are continuing to ask anyone with even limited information to reach out, including people who may have seen the Jeep Cherokee or noticed someone matching his description.
Missing-person investigations often move forward through scattered tips, especially when the person has not been in contact for an extended period. In this case, family members’ last known communication in June is the key starting point, and officers are building from there.
For Chattanooga police, the immediate goal is simple: determine whether Haliburton is safe and where he may be. Until then, investigators are relying on the public to help fill in the missing pieces.
