Daughter speaks out 19 years after Boise father Jeramy Burt disappeared

Mackenzie Burt, now 22, is seeking answers about her father's unsolved disappearance and murder in 2007.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Jeramy Burt, a Boise father, disappeared 19 years ago on February 11, 2007, after telling family members he was going to meet friends. His ex-wife later received cryptic text messages from his phone claiming he was leaving forever, but his family did not believe it. Three months after his disappearance, Boise police found Burt's burned-out car in the Owyhee Desert, and authorities believe he was murdered. Burt's daughter, Mackenzie, was only 3 years old when he vanished, and the uncertainty and loss deeply impacted her childhood. Now 22, Mackenzie is speaking out about her father's unsolved case and her desire for answers and justice.

Why it matters

This case highlights the lasting trauma and unanswered questions that families face when a loved one goes missing under suspicious circumstances. Mackenzie's story sheds light on the generational impact of such tragedies, as she grappled with the loss of both parents and struggled to form meaningful connections as a teenager. The unsolved nature of Jeramy Burt's disappearance and presumed murder also underscores the challenges law enforcement faces in cold cases, even decades later.

The details

According to Boise police, shortly after Jeramy Burt's disappearance, his ex-wife in Las Vegas began receiving cryptic text messages from his phone claiming he was leaving forever. However, his family did not believe these messages, as they did not align with his character. Three months after he went missing, Boise police found Burt's burned-out car in the Owyhee Desert. Authorities believe he was murdered, though the case remains unsolved 19 years later.

  • Jeramy Burt disappeared on February 11, 2007.
  • Three months after his disappearance, Boise police found his burned-out car in the Owyhee Desert.

The players

Jeramy Burt

A Boise father who disappeared on February 11, 2007, at the age of 33. Authorities believe he was murdered, though the case remains unsolved.

Mackenzie Burt

Jeramy Burt's daughter, who was 3 years old when her father disappeared. Now 22, she is speaking out about the lasting impact of her father's unsolved disappearance and murder.

Sgt. Justin Kendall

A member of the Boise Police Department's Violent Crime Unit, who stated that authorities believe Jeramy Burt was murdered and did not simply vanish.

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What they’re saying

“How do you sit there not knowing whether or not the man you love is either dead or left you because that's what she was handed. She was handed text messages saying, 'I'm leaving you forever.' But then in her heart — she knew something else happened.”

— Mackenzie Burt (eastidahonews.com)

“We do know that Jeramy did not vanish into thin air. We believe he was murdered.”

— Sgt. Justin Kendall, Boise Police's Violent Crime Unit (eastidahonews.com)

What’s next

Boise police said they now have more than 44 chapters of casework in their investigative binders and hope to put the final pieces together to solve this 19-year-old cold case.

The takeaway

This tragic case highlights the lasting impact of unsolved disappearances and murders on families, as Mackenzie Burt has struggled to navigate adulthood without her parents. Despite the passage of nearly two decades, her father's killers have not been brought to justice, underscoring the challenges law enforcement faces in cold cases and the importance of community support in keeping these cases alive.