Watching your child do something they’re passionate about can create lasting memories for a parent.
It was June 30, 2017, in Crosby, Texas. Craig Lackey was at his 25-year-old son Chase’s softball game watching him play the first game in a double-header. “He grew up as a young kid playing ball all his life and all through high school and everything,” Craig told Dateline. Debbie Diaz, Chase’s mother, told Dateline Chase’s life growing up revolved around baseball. “Baseball was his thing. He was always in all-stars from the age of 5 years old… We even went to the Dixie League World Series,” she said.
Chase’s first game that day was a win. His father had to head home after that to prepare for work the next day. “I got to see him do what he loved to do — which was play ball,” Craig said.
Craig had no idea just how lasting that memory would need to be.
“[Chase] gave me one of his patented big bear hugs and said ‘I love you, Pop,’” he remembered. “And I hugged him back hard, and that’s the last time I’ve seen him since -- for seven years now.”
That was the last time anyone in Chase’s family saw him. There were a few unconfirmed sightings in the days that followed. According to Debbie, one of Chase’s neighbors later said that Chase had helped him move a few days after that baseball game.
Debbie knew Chase had been planning a trip. “He had been telling me he was going to California,” she said. “And I said, ‘Son, you’re footloose and fancy-free and not married.’ And, I mean, no kids… I mean, ‘Go and explore the world.’”
“He was adventurous. He was a thrill seeker,” Debbie said. But most of all, Chase was known for being funny, even winning the “Most Humorous” title in high school. “He was known as being a really funny guy, wanting to make everybody laugh.”
On July 2, Chase’s family realized that no one had heard from him since that softball game, which was unusual. Concerned, his sisters Heather and Stephanie went to his apartment in Houston.
According to Craig, neither Chase nor his dog, a light-colored Maltese named Champ, was there. And what was there was alarming.
Dateline exchanged emails with Senior Deputy Thomas M. Gilliland of the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Media Relations and Public Information Office about the case. He said Chase’s belongings, including his “driver’s license, debit card, SSN, and passport were located in the apartment.”
According to Chase’s family, his truck and keys were also left behind.
Chase’s family filed a missing person’s report with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office on July 2, 2017. It has now been 7 years with no answers.
When asked if authorities suspect foul play in the disappearance, Gilliland responded, “We cannot certainly rule out anything at this point.”
Chase’s family put flyers up around his apartment complex and searched the surrounding area. According to Craig, they combed the area around the complex which included a park. Their search efforts turned up nothing.
When asked about law enforcement’s search efforts, Gilliland told Dateline, “A missing person report and trak flyer were generated and his information was put into the national database as a missing person. That is done so if any other law enforcement agency comes into contact with him it will flag as a missing person.” He added that no evidence was recovered from any searches.
Chase’s family has taken to social media to help gain attention. They started a Facebook group called “Finding Chase Allen Lackey” in the hope of reaching someone who knows something about what happened to Chase. “I just want to believe he’s still out there,” Debbie told Dateline.
Chase would be 32 years old today. He is 5’10” and 150 lbs., with brown hair and eyes. He has a scripture tattoo on his right arm, words across his upper chest, and one on his left wrist.
The Harris County Sheriff’s Office also told Dateline that Chase’s case is “certainly open and still active pending any further information.”
“We feel that someone knows the circumstances of Mr. Lackey’s disappearance and urge anyone with information to contact the Harris County Sheriff’s Office Homicide unit,” Gilliland said. They can be reached at 713-274-9100. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS (8474).
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