Vanished on the River: The Mysterious Disappearance of Kenneth Parsons

A Chilling Night on the Ohio River

On the frigid evening of January 22, 1997, 20-year-old Kenneth William Parsons embarked on what was expected to be a routine barge operation along an eight-mile stretch of the Little Kanawha and Ohio Rivers near Parkersburg, West Virginia. Employed in the maritime industry, Kenneth was last observed stringing lights on the barge as it departed from shore. However, upon the vessel's arrival at its destination, Kenneth was nowhere to be found. The river was laden with excessive ice that night, adding a perilous element to the journey. Despite immediate search efforts, no trace of Kenneth was discovered, and his disappearance remains a haunting mystery to this day.

The Man Behind the Name

Kenneth Parsons was a young man from Ravenswood, West Virginia, standing approximately 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing between 160 to 200 pounds. He had brown hair and brown eyes, with distinctive physical features including a knot on his ribs, a second toe longer than the big toe, a half-inch scar in his right eyebrow, and an approximately 3-inch scar on the posterior medial side of his lower right leg. On the night he vanished, he was reportedly wearing blue jeans, a flannel shirt (color unknown), and green hiker shoes.

The Investigation and Search Efforts

Following Kenneth's disappearance, the West Virginia State Police initiated an investigation, classifying the case as "Unknown Missing." Despite thorough searches and inquiries, no substantial leads emerged. The icy conditions of the river posed significant challenges to search operations, and the lack of witnesses or evidence left investigators with few avenues to pursue. Over the years, the case has remained cold, with Kenneth's family and law enforcement appealing to the public for any information that could shed light on his whereabouts.

The Lingering Questions

The circumstances surrounding Kenneth Parsons' disappearance raise numerous questions. Was his fall into the river accidental, or were there other factors at play? Could the icy conditions have contributed to a misstep, or is there a possibility of foul play? The absence of concrete evidence or eyewitness accounts makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. The case continues to perplex investigators and haunt those who knew Kenneth....Read More

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