Circumstances of Disappearance
Chapman was reported missing by his mother at about 10:30 on June 2, 1971. He was last seen playing by a sand pile 25 yards in front of his residence. His mother reported that she was in the residence talking on the phone and his father was at work.
There was no sign of a struggle and no significant evidence was found at the scene.
The search for Douglas remains the largest missing person search ever in York County. Over six days as many as 3,000 volunteers, including dozens of high school students and three psychics, Navy, National Guard and state aircraft, and Scuba divers searched muddy bogs and streams. Officials even pumped local wells dry.

State police bloodhounds lost the boy's scent in a nearby yard.