Cold Case Files: Toddler vanished during 1980 Lake Texhoma camping trip and has been missing for almost 45 years
- Dennis McCaslin
- Apr 11, 2025
- 2 min read
On May 30, 1980, two-year-old Larry DeWayne Krebbs vanished during a family camping trip near Lake Texoma in Bryan County, Oklahoma.
The toddler, described as 2 feet 4 inches tall, weighing 35 pounds, with strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes, was last seen near the riverbank. He bore a distinctive surgical scar extending from the left side of his chest to his back. Details about his clothing at the time are unknown.
According to statements from DeWayne’s father to the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, the family had set up camp near the lake. While walking along the riverbank, DeWayne trailed slightly behind.
When his father turned to check on him moments later, the boy was gone. An immediate search was launched, involving local law enforcement, volunteers, and search teams who scoured the rugged terrain around Lake Texoma, a popular recreational area spanning the Oklahoma-Texas border. Despite extensive efforts, no trace of DeWayne--clothing, footprints, or other evidence--was found.
The circumstances of DeWayne’s disappearance remain unclear. Lake Texoma’s proximity to the Red River and its dense surrounding woodlands posed challenges for searchers.
Authorities considered multiple scenarios, including an accidental fall into the water, wandering into the forest, or foul play, but no definitive leads emerged. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) notes that the case remains open, with no significant updates since the initial investigation.
In 2015, the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with NCMEC, released an age-progressed image depicting what DeWayne might look like at age 37 to renew public interest.
The image, alongside a photograph from 1980, has been circulated widely, including on missing persons databases like NamUs (National Missing and Unidentified Persons System). Despite these efforts, no credible sightings have been reported.
The lack of physical evidence and witnesses has hindered the investigation, leaving DeWayne’s family and authorities without answers for over four decades. The Bryan County Sheriff’s Office continues to seek information, however small, that could shed light on this enduring mystery.
Anyone with information about Larry DeWayne Krebbs’ disappearance is urged to contact the Bryan County Sheriff’s Office at (580) 924-3000. Tips can be submitted anonymously.
