Account
Dec 15, 2021
Dec 16, 2021
Wilfred
Kinnerson III
38
36
70 inches
170 lbs
Black / African American
Male
In the early fall of 2021, the life of Wilfred Kinnerson III, a 36-year-old father from Opelousas, Louisiana, took a devastating and mysterious turn. Kinnerson had recently been on a trip, traveling to Dallas, Texas, and Los Angeles, California, before beginning his journey home. On October 4, 2021, he made a stop in Bastrop, Louisiana, where he stayed with a friend. Communication from Kinnerson that evening seemed routine; he spoke with people on the phone around 10:35 p.m. and, just before midnight, at 11:45 p.m., he sent a text message to his teenage daughter reassuring her that he was on his way home. This message would be the last time his family heard from him. The following day, October 5, a sense of unease grew when Kinnerson failed to arrive for his daily routine of picking up his daughter from school. This uncharacteristic absence prompted his family to report him missing, setting in motion a search filled with troubling discoveries and unanswered questions. The initial days of the investigation brought a series of alarming developments. On the same day Kinnerson was supposed to return home, his silver 2016 Cadillac CT6 was reportedly seen on North Market Street in Opelousas. However, the vehicle was occupied by several unidentified men, and Kinnerson was nowhere in sight. A short time later, the car was found abandoned in the same area. Adding to the family's distress, Kinnerson's home had been ransacked, suggesting a violent or chaotic event had taken place. His father had spoken with him the day before his disappearance and recalled that his son was with a group of about 15 men for what he thought was a bachelor party, noting that he did not sense any danger in his son's voice. Despite this, the circumstances surrounding the discovery of his car and the state of his home led his family to fear that he had met with foul play, possibly even that he had been murdered. The case of Wilfred Kinnerson III remains a painful and unresolved mystery for his loved ones and investigators. The Opelousas Police Department, along with other agencies, has continued to investigate his disappearance. A significant, though ultimately inconclusive, development occurred in December 2021 when Kinnerson's sister received an anonymous phone call. The caller claimed her brother's body could be found on a road in Collinston, a town near Bastrop where he was last known to be. A search of the area led to the recovery of a body, and authorities collected DNA samples from Kinnerson's family for comparison. This overview of the case highlights a journey that began with a simple trip and ended in a heartbreaking mystery. A father's last promise to come home, a car found abandoned, and a ransacked house are the lingering clues in the search for answers regarding what happened to Wilfred Kinnerson III.
Oct 05, 2021
Opelousas
Louisiana
St. Landry Parish
No
110578
Opelousas Police Department
Opelousas
Louisiana
St. Landry Parish
70570
318 North Court Street, Louisiana
3379482500
Local
Law Enforcement
2021-017444
2021-10-11
Opelousas Police Department
5148
Black
Brown
Brown
05/24/2026
