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JACKSON – Volunteers from a number of local and state agencies gathered on the grounds of the former Odom Correctional Facility near here on Tuesday of this week to kick off another search for Daniel McCoy Moses, who has been missing more than a decade now.

On June 16, 2011, Daniel’s home in the Rehoboth community burned down and the family discovered that he was gone without a trace. His vehicles were still at the house, the doors had been locked, and the AC had been running. But no body or blood was found in the remains of the house after the fire.

Since then, Shelia Moses – one of his siblings – has tirelessly led the fight to ensure the search continues until Daniel has been found.

“I can only ask for his remains at this point,” Moses told the News Herald on Tuesday morning as searchers began to comb the expansive area of trees and fields. “I would like to have my brother’s body back, and bring him home.”

Walter Brown worked on the Daniel Moses case before he retired from the State Bureau of Investigations (SBI), and now continues to investigate as a part-time member of the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office.

“We do have some evidence and some direction in this investigation. This search is a part of that,” he said on Tuesday. “Some of this is based on some information we’ve received. Some of it is just searching the areas that we didn’t search originally.”

The search parties covered roughly 140 acres throughout the day, according to Northampton County Emergency Management Coordinator Tony Burnette. They worked with local, North Carolina, and Virginia agencies as well as some community volunteers.

Burnette said they utilized a number of resources, including cadaver dogs and drones, and roughly 60 to 70 people turned out to help with the search.

“It’s important that those searchers out there know that Daniel’s family is here and they’re involved,” Burnette added, explaining that it’s helpful to be able to make a connection to the person they’re searching for.

Northampton Sheriff Jack Smith thanked those who came to help on Tuesday, and also thanked Moses for her patience as they continue to investigate her brother’s disappearance.

“We’re doing the very best that we can,” Sheriff Smith stated. “We’re utilizing all the resources that we have, and we’re working extremely closely with the local community to try to bring some closure to the family. And we pray to God that we can do it.”

In addition to advocating for answers in her brother’s case, Moses hopes that more attention will be directed to other missing persons cases in Northampton County.

Those cases include Shawn Alston (missing since 2012), James Futrell (missing since 1998), Robert Moore (missing since 1996), and Phyllis Powell (missing since 1963). Moses pointed out that all five are Black, and she continues to hope that the FBI will eventually get involved in investigating these cases.

Moses vowed to never stop searching, and thanked everyone who has helped along the way.

“I appreciate the people who are going the last mile for Daniel,” she said. “All of my help comes from God. But God put some good people on this earth.”

Tuesday’s search – like similar previous searches conducted over the past 12 years – did not find Daniel. But Shelia Moses is not giving up.

She runs a Facebook page (“Daniel McCoy Moses Missing Since June 16, 2011”) to continue to spread awareness about the missing persons case and provide updates. She also has a change.org petition to try to get the FBI involved in the case. There is also a $15,000 reward for information that will lead to Daniel’s whereabouts.

Anyone with information can contact the Northampton County Sheriff’s Office at 252-534-2611.

“The worst thing to do, is to do nothing,” Moses emphasized.