$20,000 reward as 2-year search for Jed Hall intensifies

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI/KIDK) - Idaho Falls Police are continuing to look for, now 18-year-old Matthew “Jed” Hall, who was reported missing January 22, 2018. 

Jed left a note that day, stating he intended to attempt suicide. Neither he nor his vehicle have been found.  He was believed to be driving a gray, 2009, Nissan Versa hatchback bearing license plate 8B EF 732.

He reportedly took survival and camping gear with him.

While no longer a juvenile, he is still considered a missing person and Idaho Falls Police say they intend to keep up their search effort.

His information has been fed into multiple national data bases that would alert any law enforcement agency to his status. Investigators have also contacted Forest Service and Fish and Game agencies in jurisdictions around Idaho and neighboring states.

Investigators have also worked with dive teams to search various areas of the Snake River in Idaho Falls and Bonneville County.

He was last seen on security cameras at American Heritage Charter School, where he broke a window to enter, left a note, a necklace and money in a friend’s locker, before leaving the school and driving away in his car.

At the time of his disappearance, he was described as being 5’11” tall, 120 pounds, with Brown hair and eyes.

Hall's parents hired Mississippi-based private investigator James Terry in April as leads were left open.

"This is 27 months later and that car is not on the road anymore," Terry said. "That car is likely in somebody's garage...if (police) believe he's alive like I do, then that car was placed somewhere."

On Wednesday, Terry said some of Hall's former classmates who never spoke with police, have been opening-up to him about their interactions with him in the months leading-up to his disappearance.

"He (Hall) was so in-tuned for people being questioned for his two groups of friends that he gave opposite stories to...you don't know what to believe. There are two sides to this," Terry added.

Terry said Hall left behind a suicide note and a notebook detailing his survival plan at his home, which he believes was a ploy to throw-off police.

He added, Hall's friends told him there was another notebook that disappeared from inside his unlocked locker the same day he did.

His friends say that notebook may hold the key to where Hall is today.

Terry is now upping the reward money to $20,000 to anyone who can lead to Hall's discovery, including Hall himself. His number: 813-993-2242.
Or, you can call the Idaho Falls Police Department at 208-529-1200 and ask to speak with a Detective.

We will continue updating this story as it unfolds.