In the autumn of 1990, in the small town of Kenansville, North Carolina, a 79-year-old man named Astor Johnson Southerland vanished from his home. On October 30th, the retired truck driver, who was living with Alzheimer's disease, walked away from his residence and was never seen again by his loved ones. The last known sighting of Mr. Southerland was by someone who saw him walking west along a rural road, Secondary Road 1104.
At the time of his disappearance, he was dressed in a beige jacket, a blue sweatshirt, blue pants, and black loafers. He may have also been wearing either a grey dress hat or a blue baseball cap.
Mr. Southerland was a Black / African American male with brown hair and gray eyes, and he wore glasses. He stood about 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighed approximately 165 pounds. He had distinct physical characteristics, including a surgical scar on his stomach and a cut on his middle finger. The Duplin County Sheriff's Office was notified of his disappearance, and an official report was filed that same day, sparking an investigation into his whereabouts. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, the circumstances surrounding his disappearance remained unclear.
Extensive searches were conducted in the areas surrounding his last known location, but these efforts yielded no significant leads or clues as to what may have happened to him. The fact that Mr. Southerland was suffering from Alzheimer's disease was a significant factor in the case, raising concerns that he may have become disoriented and wandered off, unable to find his way back home. Over the years, his case grew cold, and with no new information coming to light, he was legally declared deceased in 2001. However, for his family, the lack of answers meant a continued search for closure. The investigation by the Duplin County Sheriff's Office remains open, a silent testament to a man who walked away one October day and into the unknown, leaving behind a family still hoping for answers.Last Seen: Oct 30, 1990
