Delk was last seen in the New York City borough of the Bronx on July 23, 1982. Delk was exiting the South Bronx Job Corps Center office building on Andrews Avenue at the time; he was in a training program there. He called his mother in Huntington, New York and asked her to pick him up. When she arrived there, he was gone, and he had left his street clothes behind. No one at the center saw him leave.

Delk's mother, whom he lived with, went for a weekend visit to Washington, D. C. a few days after her son vanished. She repeatedly called her home, hoping he was there. At one point the line was busy and she assumed Delk had returned, but she never actually spoke to him. When she arrived back at their residence, his wallet and his favorite black hat, which had disappeared with him, were inside the home and the living room couch appeared to have been slept on. Delk was not there, however, and he has never been heard from again.

Authorities believe Delk met with foul play and is deceased. There has been no activity on his Social Security number since his disappearance. His mother says it is uncharacteristic of him to leave without warning. Delk's case remains unsolved.