Mark Aaron Coles, 68, was reported missing by a family member on November 3, 2022, after they had not had contact with him since October 28, 2022. The last known sighting of Mr. Coles was on October 30, 2022, captured on video surveillance as he walked near a Dollar General in the Rand area of West Virginia. At the time of his disappearance, he was seen wearing a white-colored t-shirt, dark-colored pants, a ballcap, and grey-colored tennis shoes.
Video evidence later showed that on October 30, Mr. Coles had gotten off a regional transportation bus near Hughes Creek. He was carrying a walking stick and walked for several miles before being seen again on surveillance footage around 11 p.m. near the Montgomery bridge. This was the last time he was seen. The circumstances surrounding his disappearance prompted concern among his family, friends, and the community.
In January 2023, a body was recovered from the Kanawha River in Montgomery, which authorities believed could be Mr. Coles. Due to the condition of the remains, immediate identification was not possible, and the body was sent to the West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for DNA testing. In October 2024, the Kanawha County Sheriff's Office confirmed that the DNA results matched Mr. Coles, bringing the nearly two-year search to a tragic end. The sheriff's office expressed their condolences to the Coles family, stating, "Unfortunately, this is never the outcome we hope for in a missing person's case and our hearts go out to the Coles family". Friends remembered him as a great person who would give you the shirt off his back.Last Seen: Oct 30, 2022
