2 Kansas City men disappeared while kayaking in Arkansas. Family is desperate for answers

Jennifer Thompson spent most of her spring break vacation searching for her missing husband and son.

Just two days into the Kansas City family’s trip on Thursday morning, Thompson and her 12-year-old daughter Amelia had gone to town while her husband Chuck Morris, 47, and their son Charley, 20, kayaked on the lake before a storm was forecast to hit the Arkansas community where they’d rented a vacation home. The family had planned to have a game night when everyone got back.

It hadn’t started raining at Beaver Lake when Thompson and her daughter returned to the Airbnb, so they assumed Chuck and Charley were still out enjoying their time outdoors. But as time wore on, they got worried and started driving around the area searching for the men.

They called authorities to report them missing later that afternoon.

Since then, family, friends and strangers have joined law enforcement to conduct daily searches of the area in hopes of finding Chuck, a percussionist for the band Lotus, and the couple’s son Charley.

Lieutenant Shannon Jenkins, a spokeswoman for the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, said officials were dispatched to look for the men Thursday afternoon after Thompson reported the disappearance around 4 p.m.

Multiple agencies are helping the sheriff’s office in the search. Police dog units have been brought in from Oklahoma, Illinois and Louisiana. So far, authorities say they’ve found both kayaks, a jacket and what could be a hat or glove in the area.

But there is still no sign of Chuck or Charley.

Thompson said it’s possible that Chuck and Charley drowned in the lake, as winds in the area rose to about 35 miles per hour while they were kayaking, and neither had worn life jackets.

“We didn’t realize how tumultuous the water can get,” she said, “especially in certain areas of Beaver Lake.”

‘Outpouring of love’

Jennifer said the family had planned their spring break vacation as a way to reconnect amid a stressful year. In August, they moved to Kansas City from Denver, a city where Chuck had lots of music connections. He toured for some time with Lotus, and also worked on renovating their first home.

Thompson started a new job, their daughter attended a new school and Charley headed back to Ohio Wesleyan University.

Their spring break trip was supposed to be a chance for the family to relax and unwind together.

“It was really just a chance for our family to come together and unplug,” Thompson said. “Just enjoy each other and just reconnect.”

They arrived Tuesday evening to their Airbnb in Arkansas, where Chuck made Massaman curry for the family and they taught the kids to play Euchre, a popular Midwest card game. It was a new addition to the list of games the family liked to play together.

But since Chuck and Charley disappeared, Thompson said she spends all day, every day searching for her husband and son before returning to her sister’s home in Springdale to sleep.

Family and friends flew in from out of state to help with the efforts, and they’ve turned their Airbnb into the family’s command post with maps hanging all over the windows. It’s also where they gather each day before assembling their own ground search parties of about 15 people in addition to law enforcement. Strangers have also asked to help with the search.

A friend started a GoFundMe that so far has raised nearly $55,000 to help the family pay for search efforts, therapy and possible funeral services.

“The outpouring of love that we have received from the outside community has been glorious,” she said. “It’s been just really lovely … It’s a beautiful reminder of how strong and loving the human spirit is.”

‘A beautiful family’

In Arkansas and at Charley’s college, community members hosted prayer vigils for the two men, Thompson said, who she describes as patient and good-hearted.

Chuck, she said, is a loving father and partner, and Charley is a great friend who believes in doing what’s right, even if it doesn’t come with a reward. She said he runs cross country at Ohio Wesleyan and also loves music.

Laura Ibanez, Thompson’s sister, said she’s shocked by the news and has tried to do what she can to help the family. Every night when Thompson and Amelia stay at her home, she tries to play funny shows and alleviate their stress, even for a moment.

Charley, Ibanez said, is a loyal son, strong student and high-performing athlete who is always kind.

“He’s just sunshine,” she said. “He glows, and his smile is just so beautiful.”

Both Charley and Chuck, she said, have always been soft spoken, and she never saw either of them lose their temper. At one point, Ibanez said she used to talk with the family almost every day on the phone since they lived in different states.

“It’s just a beautiful family,” she said.