In the early spring of 2018, a journey home turned into an enduring mystery. Sixty-seven-year-old Stanley Bruce Vodden was last seen on March 1, 2018, in the area of Ripley, Tennessee. He was in the process of driving from Destin, Florida, back to his residence in Mendota, Illinois. His trip included a stop in Grenada, Mississippi, before he continued on his route. However, Stanley, a white male with brown hair and green eyes, never made it to his Illinois home, and no one has reported hearing from him since. Standing at 5 feet 9 inches and weighing around 230 pounds, he was a man with distinct scars on both knees from replacement surgeries and wore eyeglasses.
The details surrounding Stanley's disappearance began to surface when he was officially reported missing on March 15 of that year. A significant breakthrough in the case, which also brought a wave of concern, occurred on March 20. On that day, his vehicle, a silver 2017 Kia with Florida license plate number M070KN, was located. The car was found abandoned on a rural road in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, near the back floodwaters of the Mississippi River. This discovery was particularly troubling as the region had recently experienced heavy rainfall, leading to severe flooding in the area where his car was found. The location of the vehicle, adjacent to the swollen river, immediately sparked fears for his safety and well-being.
The discovery of the abandoned car initiated a massive search effort. The Lauderdale County Sheriff's Department, alongside various Search and Rescue teams and even the Coast Guard, launched an extensive search of both the land and the treacherous, flooded waters. Despite these exhaustive efforts by multiple agencies, no trace of Stanley Vodden was found. The comprehensive searches yielded no clues as to his whereabouts or what might have happened after he left his vehicle. The case remains unsolved, leaving his family and community with unanswered questions. The circumstances of his disappearance, a man on a long drive home whose journey ended with an empty car by a flooded river, continue to be a source of bewilderment and heartache.
Last Seen: Mar 01, 2018
