Burkhart was last seen in Bend, Oregon on August 1, 2009. He was out drinking with friends until 3:00 a.m., then returned to his apartment. He had just moved and had no food, so he went out at 3:30 a.m. to get some food. He may have been en route to a 7-11 store on Galveston Street. He was last seen walking alone in Drake Park by the Deschutes River. Burkhart was carrying a white printed bandana, a pocket knife and his wallet and keys at the time of his disappearance. He has never been heard from again. Burkhart left the lights on and music playing at his apartment. He left his cellular phone behind, and his bank accounts have not been active since he went missing.

Burkhart had lived in Bend since he was a baby. He dropped out of Mountain View High School, but obtained a GED in 1999. After high school he has several run-ins with the law, mostly for drug-related offenses. He was convicted of distributing cocaine in 2006, served two years in prison and was released in May 2008. After his release he enrolled in Central Oregon Community College, where he was a good student. He also took a job at Allyson's Kitchen. At the time of his disappearance, he was engaged to a woman he'd met late the previous year. Burkhart's fiancee stated he had put his troubles behind him and was no longer involved with drugs, but he occasionally drank heavily. His fiancee was preparing to move to Alaska when Burkhart vanished. He planned to follow her there in November.

Although he was stressed about his fiancee's pending move, Burkhart's loved ones maintain he was not seriously depressed and they don't believe he committed suicide or ran away. They think foul play or an accident caused his disappearance. He is missing under unclear circumstances and his case remains unsolved.