GASTONIA, N.C. — The Gastonia Police Department is intensifying its search and urgently appealing to the public for assistance in locating 14-year-old Clayton Clark, who has been missing since Monday, December 29, 2025. With each passing day, authorities say concern for the teenager’s safety and well-being continues to grow.
Clayton Clark obituary: This is not an obituary, but an active missing persons alert. Clayton Clark, age 14, was last seen in Gastonia, North Carolina, on December 29, 2025. He is the subject of an urgent search by local law enforcement, who are treating his disappearance as an active and ongoing investigation.
Investigators believe Clayton may still be in the local Gastonia area but have not ruled out the possibility that he could have traveled elsewhere in North Carolina or South Carolina. The police department has released recent photographs of Clayton to aid in public recognition.
“Every hour matters,” stated the Gastonia Police Department in their public appeal. “Someone in the community may have seen Clayton, crossed paths with him, or noticed something that seemed insignificant at the time—but that information could be critical now.”
Authorities are asking anyone with information, no matter how small or seemingly unimportant, to come forward immediately. The public is also urged to share the official missing person alert on social media to broaden the search reach.
How to Help:
If you see Clayton Clark, call 911 immediately.
If you have any information regarding his whereabouts, contact the Gastonia Police Department at (704) 866-6702.
You may also contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) 24-hour tip line at 1-800-843-5678.
The community is asked to remain vigilant and share this information to help bring Clayton Clark home safely.