A Routine Journey Gone Awry

On February 28, 2018, 67-year-old Stanley Bruce Vodden embarked on a drive from Destin, Florida, to his home in Mendota, Illinois. This trip was familiar to Vodden, who had made the journey multiple times before. He planned to stop in Grenada, Mississippi, before continuing north. However, after his stop in Mississippi, Vodden vanished without a trace. His family reported him missing on March 15, 2018, after he failed to arrive home and could not be reached by phone.

Discovery of an Abandoned Vehicle

On March 20, 2018, Vodden's silver 2017 Kia Sportage, bearing Florida license plate M070KN, was found abandoned on a rural road near the back floodwaters of the Mississippi River in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, close to Ripley. The area had recently experienced heavy rainfall, leading to significant flooding. The vehicle's location raised immediate concerns, prompting an extensive search by local authorities. ...Read More