Shepherd was last seen in Akron, Ohio on September 10, 2000. His brother dropped him off at the intersection of Triplett Boulevard and Arlington Street, after giving him ten dollars. Shepherd was homeless and did not have a permanent address at the time of his disappearance; he often slept under bridges in a cardboard box. He had just completed a 90-day court-ordered residential treatment program for his alcoholism. He normally contacted his sister every other day, but she has not heard from him since the date he vanished. He also hasn't renewed the health card he used to obtain his epilepsy medicine.

Shepherd dropped out of West Junior High School in the ninth grade. He has a history of trouble with the law and spent a total of eight years in prison for various crimes, including robbery, assault, theft, public intoxication and disorderly conduct, prior to his disappearance. His whereabouts are unknown.