AR AR - Gregory Harold Nicely, 34, Van Buren, 4 January 1987

Gregory was last seen by witnesses on January 4, 1987. According to eyewitness Janet Morgan DeBoer, Nicely and Steve Peavler got into an argument at her house. Peavley then shot Nicely, dragged him to Nicely's pickup truck, and drove away. Nicely's pickup was recovered near the Arkansas-Oklahoma border with a pool of blood on the floorboard of the truck, but no body. Peavler was arrested after Nicely's disappearance and charged with kidnapping and second-degree battery. He was acquitted of the kidnapping charge and found guilty of the battery charge.

During his trial, Peavler testified that he was driving Nicely to the hospital when Nicely regained consciousness and said he did not want to go to the hospital. Peavler then said that he drove to a property that Peavler owned so the two could talk out their differences. He said he left Nicely at the property and drove to a nearby store. When he returned to the property, Nicely was gone.

Nicely's mother, Barbara Nicely, believes that Gregory may be alive with amnesia, due to the fact that he had suffered "mental breakdowns" in the past after the death of his father and grandfather. Authorities believe that Nicely is no longer alive.

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/5056dmar.html

https://www.findthemissing.org/en/cases/10709/0/

Gregory's findagrave Memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/37816196

His mom died in 2016: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/169855966/barbara-sue-nicely

5056DMAR - Gregory Harold Nicely


Admin Notes
Added: 1/5/2017; Last Updated: 1/5/2017

Name: Gregory Harold Nicely
Case Classification: Endangered Missing
Missing Since: January 4, 1987
Location Last Seen: Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas

Physical Description
Date of Birth: About 1953
Age: 34 years old
Race: White
Gender: Male
Height: 5'8"-5'10"
Weight: 160 lbs.
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Brown
Distinguishing Marks/Features: Unknown

Identifiers
Dentals: Available
Fingerprints: Available
DNA: Not Available

Clothing & Personal Items
Clothing: Unknown
Jewelry: Unknown
Additional Personal Items: Unknown

Circumstances of Disappearance
Gregory was last seen by witnesses on January 4, 1987. According to eyewitness Janet Morgan DeBoer, Nicely and Steve Peavler got into an argument at her house. Peavley then shot Nicely, dragged him to Nicely's pickup truck, and drove away. Nicely's pickup was recovered near the Arkansas-Oklahoma border with a pool of blood on the floorboard of the truck, but no body. Peavler was arrested after Nicely's disappearance and charged with kidnapping and second-degree battery. He was acquitted of the kidnapping charge and found guilty of the battery charge.

During his trial, Peavler testified that he was driving Nicely to the hospital when Nicely regained consciousness and said he did not want to go to the hospital. Peavler then said that he drove to a property that Peavler owned so the two could talk out their differences. He said he left Nicely at the property and drove to a nearby store. When he returned to the property, Nicely was gone.

Nicely's mother, Barbara Nicely, believes that Gregory may be alive with amnesia, due to the fact that he had suffered "mental breakdowns" in the past after the death of his father and grandfather. Authorities believe that Nicely is no longer alive.

5 Years After Son Disappears, Mom Clings to Hope

Article Date: Jan 10, 1992


On Jan. 4, 1987, witnesses saw Nicely being shot, dragged to his pickup and driven away. The shooting occurred at a residence northeast of Van Buren, Ark., they told authorities.

Nicely's pickup truck was found two days later near Lee's Creek in Oklahoma, four miles from the Arkansas border. Authorities found a pool of blood on the floorboard, but no body.

"I know the law thinks he's dead, but where's the proof? " said Barbara Nicely, who lives in Muldrow. "If they have any, they haven't shared it with me. " "I live on hope that he's alive, until he's proven dead," she said.

In Arkansas, Crawford County coroner Roy Adams said it is one of the oldest unsolved cases he's got. But Adams said he doesn't think Nicely is alive.

Prosecutor Ron Fields said he believes Nicely is dead.

Whatever happened to Greg's son?