In the early morning hours of May 27, 2020, 68-year-old Ruben Wilson vanished from his home in Englewood, New Jersey. A man of routine, his absence was quickly noted by his son, Shalom Kennedy, with whom he lived. The two shared a daily tradition of having coffee together at 8:30 a.m., but on this particular morning, Ruben was gone when his son awoke around 6:30 a.m. Initially, his son thought he may have walked to a nearby convenience store, a familiar spot for him, but inquiries there confirmed no one had seen him. The last confirmed sighting of Ruben was at his residence in the vicinity of West Palisade Avenue and Teaneck Road. He was reportedly wearing burgundy pants and a distinctive New York Yankees baseball cap.
Ruben is described as a Black male, standing six feet tall and weighing between 161 and 240 pounds, with brown eyes, a gray beard, and a balding head. Compounding the concern for his welfare is the fact that he lives with early-onset dementia and depression.
This was not the first time Ruben had wandered from home; he had done so on at least four prior occasions. In the past, he had been found in neighboring towns and once, when he still had a vehicle, he traveled a surprising 67 miles to Wall Township. These previous incidents, while alarming, had always ended with his safe return. This time, however, the silence that followed his departure would stretch from days into years, leaving his family with unanswered questions.
The investigation into Ruben's disappearance involved searches by law enforcement, including the use of K-9 units that tracked his scent from his home toward Teaneck Road before the trail went cold. His son has offered theories rooted in his father's past and condition. During episodes related to his dementia, Ruben often spoke of needing to get to work. For three decades, he was a dedicated employee for the Department of Transportation in Paterson, New Jersey. His son fears that in his confused state, Ruben may have attempted to travel to his old workplace and tragically ended up among the city's homeless population. Another possibility considered by the family is that he may have tried to make his way to North Carolina, where he was born and spent his early childhood. Despite appeals for information from the Englewood Police Department and the New Jersey State Police, Ruben Wilson's whereabouts remain unknown, and his case is an ongoing and unresolved missing persons investigation.Last Seen: May 27, 2020
