Authorities are asking for the public’s help after the vehicle belonging to a missing Iowa man was discovered in rural northwest Arkansas.
The car owned by 22-year-old Nicholas Collins of Garwin, Iowa, was located near Oark in Johnson County on the morning of January 1. Officials say Collins was last seen on December 19 when he left his home in Garwin and was believed to be traveling to Gladbrook, Iowa. His cellphone reportedly went offline the same day.
According to the Tama County Sheriff’s Office, Collins’ Mini Cooper was later detected by a license plate reader in southern Missouri. When the vehicle was found in Arkansas, it no longer had a license plate attached, and Collins was not located in the area.
The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is assisting with the investigation.
About Oark: Oark, Arkansas, is a tiny, historic community in Johnson County best known for the Oark General Store & Cafe—Arkansas’s oldest continuously operating store, famous for its burgers and pies. The area sits within the Ozark National Forest and is a hub for outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and canoeing. Oark is located near Highway 215 northwest of Clarksville, an area that sees frequent travel by outdoor enthusiasts.
Search efforts remain ongoing as investigators work to determine Collins’ movements after leaving Iowa. Anyone with information about Nicholas Collins or his whereabouts is urged to contact the Tama County Sheriff’s Office at (641) 484-3760 or the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office at (479) 754-2200.
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