Ronald Errol LaBonte was 74 years old when he was last seen in Averill, Vermont, on September 26, 2013. NamUs lists him as missing from Averill under case MP28579, with his last contact recorded on that date. He is described as a White male with white hair and brown eyes, approximately 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall and weighing about 150 to 170 pounds. The available case information does not indicate that he has been found alive or deceased, so his case remains listed as unresolved.
The circumstances of Ronald’s disappearance are deeply concerning and especially heartbreaking because he was reportedly suffering from a terminal illness at the time. According to case summaries that cite investigative findings, authorities believed he may have been suicidal. The investigation centered on his residence on Canaan Hill Road in Averill, a rural area in Essex County near the borders of New Hampshire and Canada.
Ronald was last reported seen leaving his home in a black 2004 Ford Ranger pickup truck with Vermont license plate BME 507. A few hours later, at about 1:22 p.m., a fire broke out at his home on Canaan Hill Road. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but Ronald was not found inside the residence or nearby at that time. Authorities later determined the fire was intentionally set, and investigators believed Ronald may have set it himself before leaving the area.
Two days after he vanished, on September 28, 2013, Ronald’s black Ford Ranger was found abandoned in the woods across the road from his home. That discovery suggested he may not have traveled far by vehicle after leaving his residence. Investigators came to believe he may have entered the woods on foot somewhere near his property after the fire, but searches of the burned residence and the surrounding area did not locate him.
Search efforts reportedly covered both the home and the wooded area around Canaan Hill Road, but no confirmed trace of Ronald was found. He was described as an avid outdoorsman, which complicated the possibilities in the case: he may have known the surrounding terrain well, and some reports noted he could potentially have traveled beyond Vermont, including into New Hampshire or New York, if he did not remain near Averill. Investigators and family members also believed he may have had a handgun with him when he disappeared.
As of the most recent online reporting located, Ronald LaBonte has not been found and continues to be listed as a missing person. Vermont State Police have continued to seek information from the public, and the Derby Barracks has been identified as the investigating contact. After more than a decade without answers, Ronald’s disappearance remains a painful unresolved case for those who knew and loved him, and even a small piece of credible information could help clarify what happened after he left his home that day.Last Seen: Sep 26, 2013
