500 days and no word from David McAllister

The search for a Bettendorf man has reached more than 500 days.

That’s after he disappeared without a trace.

David McAllister’s parents told Local Four News they haven’t seen a lot of promising leads to bring them back to their son.

He’s now 23-years-old but was 22 when he went missing.

His parents last heard from McAllister on May 11, 2017.

The last recorded signal from his cell phone came from a spot near Vander Veer Park that afternoon.

Jeff and Marilyn McAllister told Local Four News this has been extremely stressful for them and David’s two brothers.

They told us they’ve been working with police and a number of different groups for missing persons.

They’ve also launched a dedicated Facebook page to help reach out. 

But there is a feeling there’s a long way to go before this nightmare will end.

David’s mother Marilyn McAllister said, “There’s days where it’s like I can’t believe that he’s really missing. It’s like a bad dream and some day I’m just going to wake up from all of this and everything is going to be fine.”

The pain brought by the question “Where is David McAllister?” hasn’t gone away for almost a year and a half. 

David’s father Jeff McAllister said, “It’s always in the back of my mind, it’s always there.”

“Had a heart of gold. He literally several times took clothes off of himself and gave to people. Had a brand new pair of Converse tennis shoes and he took them off and gave them to someone because they needed them more than he did,” said Marilyn. 

David was last seen May 10, 2017, and the last his parents heard from him was the next day.

Marilyn said she told her son, “‘I’ll check with you after and see if you need a ride home where you’re at’ and he said’ sound’s good mom. I love you.’ And that was the last time I talked to him.”

Jeff said, “I remember asking him if he is going to be home that night and he said he was, but then we never heard from him again.”

Jeff and Marilyn McAllister told Local Four News it isn’t like him to cut off communication. 

Jeff said, “Very rare that he’d go more than a day without contacting me or his mother.”

They add while he’s taken extended trips across the country and can care for himself, this isn’t like the other times David has traveled.

Marilyn said, “He didn’t take anything but a backpack and a Bible. He didn’t take any clothes or food or nothing.”

The McAllisters said all they need is David home. 

Marilyn said, “My gut tells me he’s not living on earth anymore, but with that being said, even if he’s not, I need to find his body.”

But this case has left them with a lot of unknown.

“There’s really been nothing that’s led us to any real answers. The authorities have tried to do what they can,” said Jeff.

So they hope someone out there has the answer to their question, Where is David?

Marilyn said, “Please let us know whether it’s good or bad. We need to find him.”

David is described as 5’9″ and 160 pounds. 

He has blond hair and blue eyes. 

David also has distinctive tattoos and walks with a limp in his right ankle.

Happy Labor Day Everyone. Please share again. David has been gone 481 days. This is the 2nd Labor day he has…Posted by BRING DAVID McAllister HOME on Monday, September 3, 2018

His parents are asking anyone with information to contact the Bettendorf Police Department 563-344-4015 or Crime Stoppers of the Quad Cities at 309-762-9500.