On a late summer day, Robert L. Patric, a 75-year-old man, disappeared while hiking in a familiar area. He was last seen in North Stonington, Connecticut, around 2:00 PM on September 7, 1991. Known to enjoy the outdoors, he was in the vicinity of Lantern Hill, a popular hiking spot off of Wintechog Hill Road, when he vanished without a trace. Concerns for his well-being were amplified by the fact that he had a history of memory loss and was in need of medication.
His disappearance prompted immediate and extensive search efforts, as family, friends, and law enforcement held out hope for his safe return.
At the time he went missing, Robert Patric was described as a white male, standing at 5'11' and weighing approximately 185 pounds. He had white hair and blue or gray eyes, and it was noted that he wore eyeglasses. The specifics of the clothing he was wearing on the day he disappeared are not widely reported, but it is known that he was prepared for a day of hiking in the Connecticut woods. The search for him was thorough, combing through the rugged terrain of the Lantern Hill area, a place characterized by rocky ledges and dense woodlands. Despite the exhaustive efforts of search and rescue teams, no signs of Mr. Patric were ever discovered.
The days following his disappearance turned into weeks, then months, and now decades, with no answers as to what became of him. The case of Robert Patric is a story of a man who went for a walk in the woods and never came home, leaving a void in the lives of those who knew him. The circumstances surrounding his vanishing are particularly poignant given his medical condition, which made him vulnerable. Over the years, his case has remained open, a lingering mystery in the community of North Stonington. The investigation, led by the Connecticut State Police, has faced the difficult reality of a case with no witnesses and no physical evidence, a situation that has left his whereabouts unknown and brought no closure to his family.Last Seen: Sep 7, 1991