Account
Feb 3, 2026
Feb 3, 2026
Romir
Coles
14
14
Black / African American
Male
In the autumn of 2022, concern began to grow for 68-year-old Mark A. Coles, a resident of Rand, West Virginia. His family last had contact with him on October 28 and reported him missing on November 3, 2022. The last confirmed sighting of Mr. Coles was on October 30, 2022, when he was seen getting on a KRT bus in Rand and later disembarking in Hughes Creek. Surveillance footage later captured him walking with a walking stick near the Montgomery Bridge in the Smithers area around 11 p.m. that same night; this would be the last time he was seen. A Silver Alert was issued for his disappearance, noting that he had medical conditions that required regular medication and was known to travel by foot or public transportation. The search for Mark Coles continued for months, leaving his family and friends in a state of uncertainty. Friends described him as a kind and generous person, with one stating he "was a great person who would give you the shirt off his back." The community held onto hope for his safe return as investigators followed up on any potential leads. The circumstances of his disappearance were unsettling, as he had seemingly vanished after being seen on surveillance footage. The lack of contact and the knowledge of his medical needs amplified the urgency and worry surrounding his case. Tragically, the search came to a sorrowful conclusion. In January 2023, a body was discovered in the Kanawha River in Montgomery. Due to the condition of the remains, immediate identification was not possible, and DNA testing was required to confirm the identity. The remains were sent to the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, and with the assistance of Marshall University's Forensic Science Center, a familial DNA test was conducted. In October 2024, authorities confirmed that the remains were those of Mark A. Coles. The Kanawha County Sheriff's Office expressed their condolences to the family, stating, "This is never the outcome we hope for in a missing person's case." The confirmation of his passing brought a tragic end to the nearly two-year search, leaving his loved ones to mourn their loss.
Feb 02, 2026
HAMPTON
Virginia
06/02/2026
