Lepley was last seen at the Texaco station at Interstate 25 and Colorado 165 in Crow Junction, Colorado on May 30, 1976. He had worked there part time for two years. Lepley picked up the keys from the manager and began his shift at 6:15 a.m. Only about fifteen minutes later, customers wanting to buy gas discovered the station was unattended. A short time after that, Lepley's manager and the police found Lepley's pickup truck in the station parking lot with the keys in it. Inside the station, the manager's citizen band (CB) radio had its microphone ripped out and the cash register, which had contained between $50 and $100, was empty. Lepley has never been heard from again.

Authorities stated a middle-aged Caucasian male, with graying sandy-colored hair and blue eyes, weighing about 175 pounds, was seen at the Texaco station between 6:30 and 7:30 the morning Lepley disappeared. This individual is the prime suspect in Lepley's disappearance. He has never been identified.

Foul play is suspected in Lepley's case. He was a senior and honor student at Rye High School at the time of his disappearance, and went missing just days before graduation. He was a pole-vaulter and basketball player, and once had been president of his class. His case remains unsolved.