On a spring day in 1984, 24-year-old Leon Michael Piluski Jr. went on a fishing trip with a friend, William Roby, on the Connecticut River. They were last seen on April 24, 1984, near the Route 119 bridge in Brattleboro, Vermont. When the two men did not return as expected, Leon's father, who resided in Hinsdale, New Hampshire, grew concerned and reported his son missing four days later, on April 28. At the time of his disappearance, Leon was described as a white male, 5'8" tall and weighing 140 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. He was last known to be wearing a brown jacket, a t-shirt, and blue jeans.
The initial search for the two men yielded a significant clue on May 7, 1984, when their boat was discovered approximately 30 miles downstream in Turner Falls, Massachusetts. This discovery unfortunately foreshadowed a more somber turn in the investigation. On May 22, the body of William Roby was found.
His remains were located about 15 feet from the shore, behind the Paddock Motel on Route 119 in Brattleboro, the same area where he and Leon had begun their fishing trip.
The discovery of Roby's body and the empty boat left the fate of Leon Michael Piluski Jr. a painful mystery. Despite the passage of time, his case remains open, with the Hinsdale Police Department in New Hampshire continuing to seek answers. The sequence of events—a casual fishing trip turning into a double tragedy—paints a grim picture of that April day. The recovery of his friend and their boat offers a partial narrative, but without Leon, the story is heartbreakingly incomplete. The case of Leon Michael Piluski Jr. is an enduring story of loss and the gnawing uncertainty that has haunted his family for decades.Last Seen: Apr 24, 1984
