In the spring of 2023, concern grew for 77-year-old Roger Lee Hammond, a resident of Portsmouth, Virginia. He was last seen on May 2, 2023, after being discharged from Maryview Hospital. His planned ride from the hospital did not arrive, and Mr. Hammond left the facility on his own. At the time of his disappearance, he was seen near the 3600 block of High Street. Authorities were particularly worried because it was believed he did not have his necessary medication with him. In the days following his disappearance, the Portsmouth Police sought help from the public, asking residents and businesses along High Street to check their surveillance footage for any sign of him. He was last seen wearing a baseball hat and a blue jacket.
Months later, on August 25, 2023, a landscaping crew made a somber discovery in the 2500 block of Frederick Boulevard in Portsmouth. They found decomposed skeletal remains, prompting a police investigation. It would take a couple of weeks for the authorities to make a positive identification. On September 8, 2023, the Portsmouth Police confirmed that the remains belonged to Roger Hammond, who was 78 years old at the time he was found.
The identification of his remains brought a tragic end to the search that began in May. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death was ongoing following the discovery. The case transitioned from a search for a missing person to a death investigation, leaving his community to mourn his loss. The overview of the case reflects a timeline that started with a hospital discharge and an expected ride that never came, leading to a period of uncertainty and a search effort that ultimately concluded with the sad discovery by a landscaping crew and the subsequent confirmation of his passing.
Last Seen: May 2, 2023
