Andy Vinson West missing: Authorities search Sampson County after the 58-year-old was last seen in the High House Road area, with his car still parked at home and no clear answers on what happened.
SAMPSON COUNTY, NC — Family members and law enforcement are searching for answers after Andy Vinson West, 58, disappeared last week under troubling circumstances.
West was last seen around 7 p.m. Wednesday, January 21, 2026, in the High House Road area east of Fayetteville, according to his family and authorities. He hasn’t been seen or heard from since.
SEARCH EFFORTS STILL UNDERWAY
Once West was reported missing, multiple agencies began searching areas near where he was last seen. The Sampson County Sheriff’s Office, Sampson County Emergency Management, and the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation joined the effort.
Search crews spent more than 16 hours combing through rural and wooded areas using ground teams, K-9 units, and aerial support. Officials say bad weather slowed things down, but the search has not stopped.
So far, no sign of West has been found.
HIS CAR NEVER MOVED
Investigators say West’s vehicle is still at his home, which has raised serious questions about what happened that night.
Captain Marcus Smith with the sheriff’s office said the car being left behind suggests West may have walked away or got into another vehicle. At this time, there is no clear explanation for how or why he left.
Sheriff Jimmy Thornton said foul play is not suspected right now, but he made it clear that it has not been ruled out as the investigation continues.
FAMILY WAITING FOR ANSWERS
Loved ones say West’s disappearance doesn’t make sense and are asking anyone who may have seen him or knows something to come forward.
