On the afternoon of **July 15, 2024**, Reginald “Reggie” Vardon—an 82‑year‑old resident of Victor, New York—was captured on surveillance at the ESL Federal Credit Union on School Street in the village at approximately 12:20–12:21 p.m. He was wearing an **orange long‑sleeve shirt**, **black pants**, a **white baseball cap**, and carrying a **teal or blue backpack**.
Prior to that, he had left his senior apartment complex—Autumn Grove Apartments on East Victor Road—in what a neighbor described as a **heavy black jacket**. He stood at about 5 ft 1 and weighed between 110 and 130 lb, with gray hair and brown eyes.
Despite being generally healthy and accustomed to walking for errands—his bike was still in his apartment—Reggie had shown signs of mild **cognitive decline** in the months leading up to his disappearance, according to his daughter Kim Kaiser. He did not drive, kept cash rather than credit cards, and there was **no activity on his bank account or cellphone** after mid‑July, suggesting he didn’t make further purchases or use the phone since then.
After he failed to return home, his absence was first noticed roughly **two days later**, when contact attempts via phone and visits went unanswered. A manager at Autumn Grove reported him missing, and authorities began piecing together his last known movements.
The **Ontario County Sheriff’s Office** coordinated an extensive search involving ground personnel, K‑9 units, drones, ATVs, and aerial support via a New York State Police helicopter. They combed key areas including **Auburn Trail**, Main Street in Victor, and business zones in Victor and neighboring Farmington, reviewing surveillance footage that showed no activity beyond that on School Street.
Over successive weeks, authorities expanded the search radius to surrounding towns and checked hospitals, shelters, and contacted distant family members in Chicago, San Francisco, and Texas. Still, there was **no tracing of his phone number**, and his financial footprint remained silent. Foul play was publicly **ruled out**, with officials emphasizing he had no known enemies—and searchers believed he may have become disoriented while on foot.
Nearly **ten months later**, on **May 27, 2025**, a fisherman discovered human remains along **Mud Creek**, near McMahon Road in Victor—less than a mile from Vardon’s residence. Clothing found at the site, combined with dental X‑ray identification by the Monroe County Medical Examiner’s Office, confirmed the remains belonged to Reginald Vardon.
Sheriff David Cirencione noted the remains were located under a tree in dense brush and tall grass, in an area difficult to spot by land or air searches. The terrain's remoteness likely contributed to the extended duration of the search.
Investigators believe **severe storm conditions** on the day of his disappearance may have been a critical factor. On July 15, the region experienced flash flooding and storm surges, which caused Mud Creek’s water levels to rise significantly for several days. Vardon’s find spot was approximately **30–40 feet from the creek** and about **100 feet from a railroad bed**, suggesting he may have been **swept away or trapped by storm-related flooding**. While the official **cause of death remains undetermined**, a forensic anthropologist was called in to conduct further examination.
By early June 2025, authorities announced that Vardon’s disappearance case had effectively been resolved—with his remains identified and his family offered confirmation and closure. Although this outcome was not what they hoped for, officials and loved ones expressed relief at finally having answers after months of anguish and uncertainty.Last Seen: Jul 15, 2024
