Maples was last seen in Birmingham, Alabama on August 11, 1999. Before his disappearance, he told the local Humane Society that he had to leave the area and wanted to give them all his possessions and his two dogs. He apparently boarded a plane flight to Dallas, Texas, leaving his vehicle behind at the Birmingham airport. He has never been heard from again.

The circumstances surrounding Maples's disappearance are unclear. His father died when Maples was very young, and his mother and sister had also died prior to his disappearance. Maples had stated that Birmingham had unhappy associations for him due to his deceased family and some of his loved ones feel he left of his own accord because of this. However, Maples's extended family stated it is uncharacteristic of him to be out of touch with them for so long. He was unmarried and worked in real estate at the time of his 1999 disappearance. His case remains unsolved.