ICYMI: Father MISSING in South Dakota—VANISHED Without a Trace After Argument!
A Sioux Falls dad and business owner, disappeared in September 2024, leaving behind his family and more questions than answers. 🌐 #News #SiouxFallsSD #SouthDakota #MissingPerson
Note from the Editor: This article draws from multiple sources, including a Dateline television interview with the family and authorities, news reports from NBC News, NewsNation, and additional local news outlets, publicly available police reports, and interviews conducted by journalist Thomas Miller. Every effort has been made to thoroughly fact-check and verify the information presented, to the best of our abilities. Our coverage aims to remain balanced, avoiding any assertion of guilt, as we join in the hope that Tyler Weathersby returns home safely.
SIOUX FALLS, SD – Tyler Weathersby, a 31-year-old Sioux Falls resident, walked away from his South Dakota home on September 4, 2024, and has not been seen since. Now 32 years old as of March 8, 2025, Tyler’s disappearance has left his family, friends, and community searching for answers nearly six months later.
A Routine Walk Turns Into a Mystery
Tyler, known for his daily walks, left his northeast Sioux Falls home around 7:45 a.m. on September 4, 2024, for what appeared to be a typical morning stroll.
A husband, father, and business owner, he kissed his wife, MonaLisa Perez, and her children goodbye in the garage as they headed to school. He then set out for a second walk that day—without his phone, wallet, or keys. When MonaLisa returned from dropping off the kids, Tyler was gone.
His walks often lasted up to two hours, so MonaLisa initially wasn’t alarmed. But by 10:30 a.m., concern set in. She searched the neighborhood and Tyler’s usual meditation spot but found no trace of him. That afternoon, she contacted the police, filing a missing persons report around 4:30 p.m.
A Life Rooted in Family and Creativity
Tyler, one of four children born to Janine Weathersby Harris, grew up shy yet curious, later blossoming into an outgoing personality. His mother recalls his compassion, noting he frequently sent her text messages expressing his love.
Tyler shared a tight bond with his older brother Gregory, with whom he launched a performance group as teenagers. Signed to a talent agency in Los Angeles, the brothers eventually ventured into music and created a clothing brand, Millions United, touring multiple times.
In the mid-2010s, Tyler relocated to South Dakota, where he started a business centered on self-love and community. There, he met MonaLisa Perez, who described him as gentle, authentic, and accepting. Their friendship began in 2017 after MonaLisa lost the father of her two children. Tyler reached out with a message of support, urging her to find strength for personal growth.
Over time, their connection deepened, leading to marriage in 2021. Tyler embraced his role as a father to MonaLisa’s children and, in March 2024, welcomed a new baby with her.
A Business Built on Purpose
Together, Tyler and MonaLisa ran Wake, a company that began as a streetwear clothing brand hosting pop-up shops and fashion shows with a focus on mental health awareness.
In recent years, Wake grew into a creative agency, assisting other brands with marketing and public relations. Tyler, who battled depression and mental health challenges, relied on his daily walks to meditate and find clarity.
Tensions Before the Disappearance
The days leading up to September 4 were unusual. Janine visited Tyler in Sioux Falls from August 26 to September 4, 2024, to meet her new granddaughter. On September 3, Tyler had an argument, which she found uncharacteristic. That evening, Tyler drove her to the airport—despite her flight being scheduled for the next day.
Janine contacted Gregory about the disagreement, and he arranged a hotel for her. Gregory spoke to Tyler afterward, noting his brother seemed off, talking in loops. MonaLisa also observed Tyler acting strangely that day after a separate disagreement, and the couple barely slept that night.
The Search Efforts Intensify
Security footage captured Tyler walking in his neighborhood and near a business, dressed in a white t-shirt and black shorts. The last sighting, about a mile from home, showed him heading toward an interstate. He appeared to be moving freely, with no signs of distress.
The Sioux Falls Police Department deployed drones and interviewed Tyler’s close contacts, but no solid leads emerged. Authorities do not currently suspect foul play.
The community has rallied, organizing searches with dogs and offering support. Gregory hired Legal Eye Investigations, LLC, to assist, with the firm distributing posters and reviewing footage. Despite public tips, police have ruled them out as viable clues.
A Family’s Hope and Uncertainty
Months after Tyler vanished, his loved ones expressed mixed feelings. Gregory remains unsure if Tyler is alive, longing only to know he’s safe. Janine senses her son may no longer be with them but doubts he would take his own life. MonaLisa holds onto the belief that Tyler is alive, though not in a stable mental state.
Tyler is described as 6 feet tall, 160 pounds, with a slim build, dark brown eyes, and a shaved head at the time of his disappearance. He has a tattoo of a crown with a halo on his right wrist. MonaLisa believes he may now have hair and a beard.
How to Help
The Sioux Falls Police Department (605-367-7212) and Sioux Falls Crime Stoppers (605-367-7007) urge anyone with information to come forward. Anonymous tips can be submitted online. As the search continues, Tyler’s family and community remain determined to bring him home.
A Moment for Reflection
Tyler Weathersby’s life touched many, from his loving family—MonaLisa, their children, Janine, and Gregory—to the friends who cherish his compassion and creativity, and their loss resonates deeply. The Sioux Falls community has shown unwavering strength, tirelessly searching and supporting the family through every step of this ongoing mystery. Even now, as months pass, the resolve to find Tyler endures, offering a glimmer of possibility that answers will one day bring peace to those who wait. — Jack and Kitty Norton, Founders and Editors
RELATED TOPICS: Missing Persons | South Dakota
Note: This article was edited on Sunday, March 9 to update the byline, correct a typographical error, and include a note regarding source material for this reporting. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused and appreciate your understanding.
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He left his house before 7:45 am, there’s video footage of him walking in the neighborhood as early as 7:15 am.
“On September 3, she and Tyler had an argument, which she found uncharacteristic. That evening, Tyler drove her to the airport—despite her flight being scheduled for the next day. ”
the argument started with Mona and Janine, not Tyler and Janine.
Tyler also texted ‘help’ to his mentor, Tamien, the night before he disappeared. Mona has stated she saw him sitting on the couch sending that text.
Tamien has stated via text to his mentorship group that Mona told him that Tyler woke up and went missing at 3am as well.
I think perhaps you should do some fact checking on this article. I’m not sure what your sources were, but there is a lot of incorrect/misinformation in this article. For starters, Mona didn’t lose her first husband. She literally shot the gun that killed him. Mona has not provided any concrete proof of her whereabouts, to anyone knowledge, during the time that Tyler was last seen on video to when she finally reported him missing without his cell phone or wallet. And it can also be disputed that Tyler kissed his wife goodbye before leaving for a walk. You should listen to some of the audio that has been recorded of Mona since that tragic fay in September. How she is NOT a suspect in this missing person’s case is beyond rationale thinking.
Good afternoon, Sadie! Thanks for the insightful comment. Hope you’re having a lovely weekend 🙂 Our reporters verify facts via police reports, interviews, press releases, and materials available to the general public. Getting the story right is always very important to us. What’s your connection to the story? If you’d like to go on record and help us run a follow-up piece based on information you have, we’d love to get your side of the story. I can put you in contact with our reporter Maria, who is very sweet and professional. She’ll be in the office tomorrow. Thanks again. It’s such a heartbreaking case. Tyler’s spirit really shines through in every picture I’ve seen – and we sure hope he is found safely. Talk soon and take care. – Emma Smith, Office Manager, Jack and Kitty News Group
Good afternoon, Kelsey! Thanks for the insightful comment. We appreciate your thought so much! Our goal is to help shine a light on a case that NEEDS solving. Our reporters verify facts via police reports, press releases, interviews, and materials available to the general public. Getting the story right is always very important to us. What’s your connection to the story? If you’d like to go on record and help us run a follow-up piece based on information you have, we’d love to get your side of the story. I can put you in contact with our reporter Maria, who is very sweet and professional. She’ll be in the office tomorrow. From all that I have seen and read, Tyler really seems like an incredible man full of light and positive energy. We sure hope he is found safely. Talk soon and take care. – Emma Smith, Office Manager, Jack and Kitty News Group
Perhaps check a few of your details and first hand sources. Tyler is shown on neighborhood videos to be out for his walk closer to 7:15 am not 7:45. A recently released video shows him at the corner of Marion and Madison between 7:30-8:00 the time stamp has been questioned. So he probably could not have been witty Mona at 7:45. Mona did not just “lose” the father of her 2 oldest children, research that case. How did you diagnose Tyler as having depression and mental health challenges? That would need to be a professional diagnosis so maybe state yiur source as to which medical professional diagnosed this. They “argument” was between Mona and Janine as systems many times by Janine who is a first hand source. Tyler drove her to the airport but maybe recheck the time on that. I have no connection to this case or people other than reading first hand sources not second hand sources which perhaps you have used. We just need to know what happened to Tyler and facts are very important not rumors and social media gossip.
Hi JL, we are not spreading rumors or social media gossip. We are using public news reports from trusted sources and are strictly trying to shine a spotlight on a tragic disappearance. ALL of the info in our reporting can be readily found in the hundreds of articles that came before ours – by huge mainstream media outlets in addition to multiple reports and interviews with authorities, etc. We hope and pray that Tyler is found alive and returns home. Thanks so much for reading and sharing your thoughts. We sincerely appreciate it and are thankful that you are joining us in a mission to find Tyler! 🙂 – Emma Smith, Office Manager, Jack and Kitty News Group
Get your facts straight! There is a lot of false information in this article. Fake news!!
Good morning, Mitty – Thanks for reading and sharing your insightful thoughts. Have a blessed day! – Emma Smith, Office Manager, Jack and Kitty News Group