Vondo Burns Missing Person Case

Jan 01, 1970

Jan 01, 1970

Vondo

Burns

55

Black / African American

Male

In the summer of 1986, a 55-year-old Black / African American man named Vondo Burns vanished under circumstances that remain unresolved. On June 7, 1986, he was last seen in Suffolk County, New York, an area known for its scenic shorelines along the Long Island Sound. Mr. Burns was a man of average build, standing at five feet ten inches tall and weighing approximately 185 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. The day he went missing was marked by a tragic boating accident in the waters of the Long Island Sound, just north of Greenport. The specifics of the incident, including the type of boat he was on and whether anyone else was involved, are not widely available, leaving a void in the timeline of that fateful day. The immediate aftermath of the boating accident prompted a response from the Southold Town Police Department, which opened an investigation into his disappearance under case number 2754-86. Search and rescue efforts were launched in the Long Island Sound, a body of water known for its unpredictable currents and vastness. Despite the efforts of law enforcement and likely other maritime agencies, Vondo Burns was not located. The circumstances noted in his case file simply state he is "MISSING FROM BOATING ACCIDENT LI SOUND NORTH OF GREENPORT NY," a brief but somber description of the event that led to his long and sorrowful absence. Decades have passed since Vondo Burns was last seen, and his case has grown cold, leaving his family and community without answers. The lack of available public information regarding the search, the condition of the boat, or any potential witnesses has made closure an elusive concept. The official record, managed by the Southold Town Police Department, offers a skeletal outline of the events, but the human story behind the incident remains largely untold. The case of Vondo Burns is a heart-wrenching reminder of the perils of the sea and the enduring pain of ambiguity that families of the missing are forced to bear. An overview of the case suggests a sudden and tragic event that offered little to no evidence to follow, leaving his whereabouts a mystery to this day.

Jun 07, 1986

Long Island

New York

,

08/25/2026