Vincent Wadlington

On the cold morning of Thursday, February 17, 2011, the body of Vincent Wadlington, a 25-year-old man, was discovered on a stretch of railroad tracks in Fall River, Massachusetts. The grim finding was made in the area of Danforth Street, near the intersection of Durfee and Odd streets. An investigation quickly determined that Vincent had been the victim of a homicide, having been stabbed to death. His life was cut short in an act of violence that remains a painful mystery to his family and community more than a decade later.

Detectives pieced together a timeline of Vincent's last known movements. He was reportedly last seen alive around 10:00 p.m. on the night before his body was found. At that time, he was in the vicinity of President Avenue and North Main Street, a location that investigators from the Bristol County District Attorney's Office have repeatedly highlighted in public appeals for information. The distance between where he was last seen and where his body was ultimately discovered suggests a final journey that holds the key to identifying his killer.

The investigation into Vincent's murder is a joint effort between the Fall River Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police detective unit assigned to the Bristol County District Attorney's Office. In the years following the killing, details released to the public have been sparse. However, one piece of information shared with Vincent’s family offered a potential glimpse into the nature of the crime. His sister later recalled that investigators had described the brutal stabbing as what appeared to be a "crime of passion," suggesting a personal motive and an offender likely known to Vincent.

Despite this theory, the case grew cold, lacking the leads needed to make an arrest. Vincent's murder became one of dozens of unresolved homicides in the region, a collection of lingering tragedies for families awaiting justice. To generate new information, law enforcement has employed creative strategies to keep these cases in the public consciousness. Vincent's case is one of several featured in a unique cold case initiative run by the Massachusetts State Police Unresolved Cases Unit.

In partnership with the Department of Correction and District Attorney’s Offices, the state police created decks of playing cards that feature photographs and case details of missing persons and victims of unsolved homicides. These cards are distributed to inmates within state correctional facilities, with the hope that someone inside the prison system may have heard something or may know something that could break a case open. Vincent Wadlington's face and the details of his murder are included on one of these cards, a constant, quiet appeal for information that could finally lead to a breakthrough.

As of February 2025, Vincent Wadlington's case remains an active and open investigation. On the anniversary of his death, state police often reissue their appeal for help, reminding the public of the young life that was lost and the justice that is still being sought. No arrests have ever been made, and no suspects have been publicly named. The case continues to be featured on the state police's unsolved case roster and on the cold case playing cards circulating through the prison system.

Investigators continue to urge anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. The Massachusetts State Police have established a dedicated tip line for their unresolved cases. Anyone with information regarding the murder of Vincent Wadlington can call 1-855-MA-SOLVE (855-627-6583). Tips can also be submitted anonymously by texting the word “Bristol” to the phone number CRIMES (274637).