Staggs was last seen at approximately 1:30 a.m. on February 6, 2007 at his residence in the vicinity of the 4600 block of Fietzway Road in Dover, Florida. He told his wife of 32 years that he'd heard a noise and thought someone was outside. Staggs took a shovel and went out to investigate. He never returned and has never been heard from again. Staggs's house slippers, cigarettes and eyeglasses were later found in his yard.

Staggs was not reported as a missing person on February 15, because he would occasionally leave home for short periods and stay with friends. He has never been gone for this long before, however. Prior to his disappearance, he was impaled in the groin in a tree-trimming accident, and received a worker's compensation settlement of $16,000. The money was with Staggs's lawyer at the time of his disappearance. He had planned to use it to remodel his house.

Staggs's case remains unsolved. His loved ones stated he was very attached to the Dover area, where he had lived all his life, and they do not believe he would have simply walked away. He has two children.