Vincent Allen Greene
CASE SUMMARY
- Name: Vincent Allen Greene
- Date of Birth: circa 1950
- Age at Disappearance: 39 years old
- Date Missing: August 16, 1989
- Missing From: Red Head Road near Mispec, Saint John, New Brunswick
- RCMP Case Number: 89-06962
- Police Case Number: SJPF 89-06962
- Status: MISSING - PRESUMED DROWNED (37 years unsolved)
- Classification: Endangered Missing / Lost / Injured Missing
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION
- Height: 5'8" (173 cm)
- Weight: 165-170 lbs (75-77 kg)
- Build: Medium
- Race: White/Caucasian
- Hair: Brown
- Eyes: Hazel/Green
- Distinguishing Marks: Scar on left side of nose
- Eyeglasses: Silver/steel rimmed
- Clothing: Blue shirt, blue denim jeans, black size 9 Hush Puppies shoes
- Jewelry: Gold wedding ring with lines on both sides
- Identifiers: DNA profile available
CIRCUMSTANCES OF DISAPPEARANCE
Incident Timeline
On the evening of August 16, 1989, Vincent Allen Greene, age 39, left his residence on Red Head Road near Mispec, Saint John, New Brunswick to search for the family dog in the wooded area behind his property.
Approximately 15 minutes later, the dog returned home alone. Vincent never returned.
Red Head Road is located near the Bay of Fundy, known for extreme tidal ranges, strong currents, and dangerous coastal terrain. The wooded area behind Vincent's residence leads toward coastal cliffs and rocky shoreline.
Environmental Context
- Missing From: Red Head, Saint John - coastal community near Bay of Fundy
- Terrain: Wooded area leading to rocky shoreline and cliffs
- Weather: Unknown (summer evening)
- Tidal Conditions: Bay of Fundy has world's highest tides (up to 52 ft/16m)
- Currents: Extremely strong tidal currents capable of carrying bodies hundreds of miles
INVESTIGATION
Police Response
Saint John Police Force conducted extensive ground searches immediately following Vincent's disappearance, focusing on:
- Wooded areas behind residence
- Coastal shoreline and cliffs
- Nearby roads and trails
- Properties in Red Head/Mispec area
Case #89-06962 remains open. DNA profile available for comparison with unidentified remains.
Family Investigation Efforts
Vincent's son, sigreene (Reddit user), has been actively pursuing case resolution for decades:
Timeline of Family Efforts:
- 1989: Vincent disappears (son age 12)
- 1996: Family obtains court-ordered death certificate declaring Vincent "missing presumed drowned"
- 2014: Son persuades police for DNA testing (sample taken 2019)
- 2019: DNA sample collected but processing delays reported
- 2022: Son discovers DNA/sample not properly entered into RCMP database
- 2022: Confronts Saint John Police Major Crime Unit - case management issues identified
Key Issues Identified by Family:
- Saint John Police Force (SJPF) case handling deficiencies
- DNA sample collection delays (5 years between approval and collection)
- Misspellings and database entry errors
- CPIC database inaccuracies
- Lack of proactive unidentified remains matching
- Resistance to advanced DNA testing
Current Status
- Legal Status: Missing presumed drowned (death certificate issued 1996)
- Physical Status: Body never recovered
- DNA Status: Sample exists but database entry uncertain
- Investigation Status: Cold case - family-driven advocacy continues
FAMILY PERSPECTIVE
Vincent's son provides firsthand account of challenges:
"I was only 12 when all of this began in 1989. I have worked as a police dispatcher and know firsthand that having my dad's case in CPIC is ineffective. It took confrontation to get his case listed properly. The DNA samples were labeled but my name misspelled. In 2022, Major Crime Unit could not find my father or my DNA in the national database."
Family maintains Vincent was not suicidal and disappearance was accidental/environmental.
MEDIA AND COMMUNITY COVERAGE
- Doe Network: Case 3610DMNB (DNA available)
- Websleuths: Active case discussion
- Reddit r/MissingPersons: Family post with 2022 updates
- Facebook Groups: New Brunswick Crime, Missing Persons Canada
- MissingNB.com: Provincial missing persons database
THEORIES AND HYPOTHESES
Primary Hypothesis: Accidental Drowning (Bay of Fundy Currents)
Probability: HIGH (85%)
Circumstances Supporting:
- Location immediately adjacent to Bay of Fundy (world's highest tides)
- Wooded path leads directly to rocky shoreline/cliffs
- Strong tidal currents capable of sweeping bodies to sea
- Extensive searches found no trace
- Bodies frequently never recovered from Bay of Fundy drownings
- Dog returned unharmed (consistent with Vincent reaching water independently)
Expected Outcome:
- Swept out to sea by tidal currents
- Body carried along eastern seaboard (Nova Scotia to Maine)
- Potentially unidentified beach remains along Atlantic coast
- Consistent with 37-year absence without trace
Secondary Hypothesis: Fall from Coastal Cliffs
Probability: MODERATE (10%)
Circumstances Supporting:
- Red Head terrain includes steep coastal cliffs
- Searching dog at dusk could lead to misstep
- Body could be concealed in dense underbrush or rock crevices
- Consistent with no trace found despite ground searches
Low Probability: Foul Play
Probability: LOW (5%)
Factors Against:
- No reported conflicts or enemies
- No evidence of violence or struggle
- Dog returned unharmed (unlikely in violent confrontation)
- Rural residential area, low crime rate
- 37 years without emerging evidence or witnesses
TIMELINE
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 16, 1989 | Vincent leaves residence to find dog in woods (~evening) |
| August 16, 1989 | Dog returns home alone (~15 min later) |
| August 17, 1989 | Extensive ground searches begin |
| 1996 | Court declares Vincent "missing presumed drowned" |
| 2007 | Case added to Doe Network (3610DMNB) |
| 2014 | Family persuades police for DNA testing |
| 2019 | DNA sample finally collected (5-year delay) |
| 2022 | Family discovers database entry failures |
| 2026 | Case remains unsolved, DNA status uncertain |
ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS
Bay of Fundy Dynamics:
- Tidal Range: Up to 52 ft (16m) - highest in world
- Current Speed: 5-8 knots during peak tides
- Body Recovery Rate: Extremely low due to currents
- Trajectory: Bodies frequently wash up Maine/Nova Scotia coasts months/years later
- Search Challenges: Extreme tidal fluctuations make coastal searches nearly impossible
INVESTIGATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS
- DNA Database Verification: Confirm Vincent's DNA profile properly entered in NCIC/CPIC/NCMEC databases
- Unidentified Remains Matching: Cross-reference with Atlantic coast unidentified males 1989-present
- Y-Chromosome Testing: Test surviving paternal relatives (grandfather if possible)
- Geographic Information System Analysis: Map Bay of Fundy current modeling from Red Head 1989
- Marine Archaeology: Consult experts on Bay of Fundy body drift patterns
- Public Appeal: Renewed media campaign targeting Atlantic coast communities
- Police Accountability: Formal review of SJPF case handling 1989-2022
CURRENT STATUS (2026)
- Classification: Cold Case - Presumed Accidental Death
- Body Recovery Likelihood: Very Low
- Identification Likelihood: Moderate (DNA matching unidentified remains)
- Case Resolution: Dependent on advanced DNA technology and database accuracy
- Contact: Saint John Police Force (506) 648-3333
- Case #: 89-06962
- DNA Available: Yes (processing status uncertain)