Crime Junkie: MISSING - Darrel “Bubba” Johnson Sr.

Episode Date: March 26, 2026
Host: Ashley Flowers
Topic: The mysterious disappearance of Darrel “Bubba” Johnson Sr. from a New Mexico campsite in June 2024.

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Ashley Flowers explores the disappearance of 67-year-old Darrel "Bubba" Johnson Sr., who vanished during a large, family-friendly camping trip at Conja's Lake State Park, New Mexico. Despite being surrounded by over 30 people, Bubba disappeared from his tent overnight with no clear trace. The episode delves into the witnesses’ conflicting accounts, law enforcement's investigative approach, and the enduring questions and suspicions that haunt Bubba’s family and friends.

Key Discussion Points & Episode Timestamps

The Disappearance

[02:01 - 03:54]

• Bubba's Arrival: Bubba, a 67-year-old Phoenix resident, arrived at the camping trip with Vanessa to celebrate Roxanne’s birthday. The event was characterized as family-friendly, with many children present.
• Last Seen: Around midnight on Friday, Allie (Alejandra Diaz) checked in on Bubba in his tent. By 7am, he was gone, leaving behind his bags (which were in Vanessa's car), but taking his phone and wallet.
• Initial Reactions: Campers first assumed Bubba stepped out to find the bathroom or take a walk, but when he didn’t return, police were notified.

Police Response & Early Theories

[03:54 - 07:38]

• Initial Interview: Officer Gonzalez arrives, interviews Allie, Vanessa, Roxanne, and George—the only ones from the group available. Others, including Allie’s boyfriend Ernie, were reportedly searching for Bubba.
• Early Police Theory: The group tells Gonzalez about Bubba’s personality, habits, and state that he didn’t drink or take medications. The officer quickly theorizes that Bubba likely wandered off and possibly hitchhiked away.
  • “Well, at this point it sounds like he might have just wandered off and hitched right out of here.” (Gonzalez, [07:38])

Timeline and Witness Accounts

[07:52 - 09:28]

• Campsite Sightings: Bubba was seen at another campsite around 12:30am requesting a flashlight. Witnesses said he appeared intoxicated, but his friends insist he doesn’t drink and speculate the witnesses mistook Bubba’s quiet, mumbling speech as intoxication.
• Tracing Bubba's Movements: Bubba asked for a flashlight, walked south by the lake, then was seen turning back toward his own camp.

Critical Sighting & Ruled-Out Leads

[09:28 - 11:53]

• Possible Highway Sighting: A man matching Bubba’s description was seen walking on Highway 104 at 6:37am (20 miles from the site), but this was quickly ruled out as another local man.
• Effect on Investigation: Despite the mistaken identity, the notion that Bubba simply "walked off" persisted among police and some witnesses.

Family Perspective, Phone Mystery, and Friction

[13:15 - 17:46]

• Family Involvement: Bubba’s son (Daryl Jr.) expresses confusion and frustration over the communication breakdown:
  • “What do you mean? My dad wasn’t with Allie in that way.” (Daryl Jr., [13:15])
• Dog Test: Bubba typically asked Daryl Jr. to care for his dog during trips. Not this time—the dog was left with minimal provisions, indicating a lack of planning on Bubba’s part.
• Campsite Return: Daryl Jr. arrives at the site at 2am. He claims the entire group, including those who last saw Bubba, had already left—a point disputed by Allie and Roxanne.
• Phone Ping Mystery: Bubba's phone last pinged near the campsite at 2:23pm Saturday, long after he was reported missing, yet it was never found.

Theories and Unresolved Tensions

[17:46 - 22:14]

• Bathroom Scenario: Ashley speculates Bubba could have lost his phone while using the bathroom outside, gone searching with the flashlight, and possibly encountered misfortune near or in the lake.
• Lake Search: No divers ever searched the lake, and local experts note that if Bubba had drowned, his body would likely have surfaced by now.
• Relationship Drama: Conflicting stories about the nature of Bubba’s relationship with Allie.
  • “Daryl's my friend. Ernie is my boyfriend. He's been my boyfriend for 13 years.” (Allie, [20:04])
• Multiple Sleeping Bags: Bubba’s family notices two sleeping bags in Bubba’s tent. Allie dismisses this—says extra sleeping bags were given for comfort.

Social and Witness Discrepancies

[24:16 - 28:00]

• Tony's Statement: Bubba’s friend says Bubba felt "used" by Allie and had left her house previously after an uncomfortable encounter with Ernie, but Ashley notes a photo shows Bubba, Allie, and Ernie apparently getting along at the campsite.
• Family Messages:
  • “Bubba … didn't like how my mom's boyfriend gets drunk and talks to her. Very childish. Nothing abusive.” (Facebook message, [24:16])
• No Reported Argument: Despite suggestions, no one at camp acknowledges any fight or major incident that night.

Unsettling Witness Exchanges and Final Sighting

[28:00 - 31:45]

• Local Resident's Account: A woman named Cicely recalls Allie’s group searching the lake area a week after Bubba vanished and possibly mentioning they found Bubba’s phone in his tent—a claim later denied and explained as a miscommunication regarding the phone’s last ping.
• Nighttime Roadside Sighting: A couple reports seeing a scared black man fitting Bubba’s description interacting nervously with a car on Highway 104 the night he disappeared, but this remains unverified and confusing.

Police Position and Family Distress

[31:45 - 33:50]

• State Police Statement: No evidence points to foul play; authorities believe Bubba likely walked off.
  • “The lack of recovered remains or belongings is not uncommon in missing persons cases… the absence of items alone is not treated as proof of foul play.” (police via email, [32:44])
• Family’s Perspective: Bubba's family and others familiar with the area find it improbable that he could vanish without any trace, especially given the terrain and the number of people present.
• Allie’s Stance: Asserts willingness to take a polygraph, denies any group involvement in Bubba’s fate, and criticizes the thoroughness of the police investigation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Ashley Flowers [07:52]:

  "This campground's mostly flat, almost as far as the eye can see. And no one sees Bubba. At least not that morning."

• Allie [20:04]:

  "No, Daryl's my friend. Ernie is my boyfriend. He's been my boyfriend for 13 years."

• Tony (via Ashley) [24:16]:

  "Bubba started feeling used emotionally and financially … He started seeing his relationship with Allie differently."

• Ashley Flowers [33:50]:

  "Over a year and a half after Bubba's disappearance, there is still no body, no phone, no explanation that fully makes sense for Bubba's family—and that's been unbearable."

Summary Insights

• Central Mystery: Bubba vanished amid dozens of witnesses, in clear terrain, without evidence of leaving, and without clear motive or signs of foul play.
• Conflicting Testimonies: Discrepancies abound regarding relationships, timeline, and the recovery (or non-recovery) of Bubba’s belongings.
• Law Enforcement Frustration: Police lean on the "walk away" theory despite the family and local opinion that this scenario is improbable.
• Lingering Questions: The fate of Bubba’s phone, the truth of group dynamics, and the possibility of outside interference or foul play remain unresolved.
• Emotional Toll: Bubba’s family struggles with open wounds, plausible theories that go against the evidence, and disappointment in the official search.

Call to Action

If you have any information on the disappearance of Darrel “Bubba” Johnson Sr., contact the New Mexico State Police dispatch at 505-841-9256.

For sources and further reading, visit crimejunkie.com.

This episode leaves listeners with more questions than answers, encapsulating the frustration and pain experienced by families of the missing, and highlighting how a person can seemingly vanish without a trace, even in plain sight.