The disappearance of Irven Kuykendall, a then-79-year-old resident of Fort Smith, remains one of a number of unsolved mysteries in Sebastian County, with no trace found since January 4, 2015.
Kuykendall was last seen on foot near Mid-Town Apartments in the 1400 block of Rogers Avenue, Fort Smith, on the date of his disappearance. At the time, he was wearing a tan jacket, blue jeans, and a black stocking cap.
His age and medical conditions--memory loss, hearing, and vision problems--classified him as an endangered missing person, prompting immediate concern.
These vulnerabilities contributed to the urgency of the search, as they increased the risk of him becoming disoriented or lost although he area around Mid-Town Apartments is a busy residential and commercial zone, which makes his disappearance particularly perplexing.
The lack of witnesses or definitive last sightings has added to the mystery, with no reports of him being seen since that day.
Following his disappearance, a Silver Alert was issued by the Arkansas State Police.
Despite these efforts, early searches, including canvassing the area and checking local hospitals and shelters, yielded no results.
The investigation by the Fort Smith Police Department involved following up on numerous leads over the years, but none have provided significant progress.
Community appeals and media coverage, particularly in local outlets like the Today in Fort Smith , have kept his name in circulation, but no new information has emerged since at least 2018, based on online discussions.
His case is registered with the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) NamUs Database, a database that aids in resolving missing persons cases, yet specific updates or case numbers are not publicly detailed in accessible records.
As of March 5, 2025, 10 years after his disappearance, Irven Kuykendall's fate remains unknown. The lack of closure has left a profound impact on his family and the Fort Smith community, with ongoing grief and hope for answers.
Onl;ine forums, such as Websleuths have, kept discussions alive, with users expressing frustration over the lack of progress and speculating on possibilities like him wandering off and not being found, given his medical condition.
The case highlights the challenges in resolving missing persons cases, especially for vulnerable adults, and serves as a reminder of the importance of community vigilance.
The Fort Smith Police Department continues to seek information, encouraging anyone with knowledge of Kuykendall’s whereabouts to contact them at 479-739-6032.
