On June 26, 2009, a neighbor of Pike's in Surry City, North Carolina saw him walking down Linwood Drive carrying fishing rods, accompanied by a male acquaintance. He may have been sighted at the Swift Stop store in the Mount Airy/Flatrock area of North Carolina. He has never been heard from again. Shortly after Pike went missing, his acquaintance's camping tent was found burned and abandoned in the woods.

Pike left his wallet and identification at the McBride Road home he shared with his mother. He didn't own a car at the time of his disappearance and he had lost his driver's license, but he was about to get it back, and his mother stated he was also anticipating a car accident settlement check from an insurance company. Pike's mother doesn't believe he left of his own accord. She said he had started a garden just before he vanished and was looking forward to watching it grow. His mother described him as a friendly man who was well-liked in the community and often accepted car rides from people, and kept in regular touch with herser4 whenever he was out.

Pike may have traveled to Florida after he went missing. He wasn't reported missing until July 6, and some agencies list this as the date of his disappearance. His case remains unsolved.