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Wendall Lankford Missing Person Case

Last seen in Coldspring, Texas on Sep 6, 2008

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Victim Details

Jul 19, 2021

Jul 23, 2021

Wendall

Lankford

64

46

68 inches

265 lbs

White / Caucasian

Male

Sep 6, 2008

Coldspring

Texas

San Jacinto County

77331

No

105826

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

Conroe

Texas

Montgomery County

77301

Fadi Rizk

Detective

#1 Criminal Justice Drive, Texas

9367605800

County

Law Enforcement

http://www.mctxsheriff.org/

10A013957

Nov 25, 2008

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

6604

Brown

Hazel

Hazel

Oct 10, 2026


Area Last Seen:

Case Description

Any updates on this case? Let us know!
Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP82349) and 2 other sources
Wendall Elton Lankford, 46 years old, was last seen on September 6, 2008, in the Camilla area of Coldspring, Texas. Known by the nickname "Buddy," Lankford stood 5'8" and weighed around 265 to 280 pounds. He had brown hair, hazel eyes, and a distinctive tattoo of a black outline of roses on his left forearm. After being last spotted in San Jacinto County, he was never heard from again.

It wasn't until November 25, 2008, that his family officially reported him missing to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office. Due to the last known sighting being in San Jacinto County, his family was directed to file a missing persons report there. Investigations followed, but little information has been uncovered, and the details surrounding his disappearance remain unclear.

As of now, his whereabouts are still unknown. Both the Montgomery County and San Jacinto County Sheriff's Offices, along with the Texas Department of Public Safety, continue to seek any leads that could help resolve this long-standing case.
Last Seen: Sep 6, 2008

Links to Additional Sources (2)

See any mistakes? Let us know!
  • Wendall Elton Lankford - The Charley Project
  • Man #missing from #Coldspring... - Missing Persons of America

    • Possible Unidentified Matches (7)

    Unidentified remains cases whose details are consistent with this person, ranked by how closely they compare. Fields that are unknown in either case are left out of the score.

    81%Moderate
    John Doe — Houston, Texas - unidentified case UP7699
    John Doe — Houston, Texas
    UP7699 • Found Jul 17, 2010
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 91%Est. 30–45 vs 46 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 87%57 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 22 months after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"
    Weight 94%230 lb vs 265 lb
    Hair 60%Black vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    77%Possible
    John Doe — Houston, Texas - unidentified case UP136464
    John Doe — Houston, Texas
    UP136464 • Found Jan 6, 2025
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 38–52 vs 46 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 84%68 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 16 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'10" vs 5'8"
    Weight 100%249 lb vs 265 lb
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    Eyes 30%Blue vs Hazel
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Houston, Texas
    UP86759 • Found Sep 8, 2021
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 46 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 87%59 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 13 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"
    76%Possible
    John Doe — Houston, Texas - unidentified case UP17835
    John Doe — Houston, Texas
    UP17835 • Found Aug 22, 2017
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 46 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 85%64 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 9 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'7" vs 5'8"
    Weight 86%220 lb vs 265 lb
    Hair 40%Gray vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Houston, Texas - unidentified case UP102436
    John Doe — Houston, Texas
    UP102436 • Found Apr 6, 2023
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 40–60 vs 46 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 86%62 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 15 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"
    Hair 100%Brown vs Brown
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Houston, Texas - unidentified case UP91236
    John Doe — Houston, Texas
    UP91236 • Found May 8, 2022
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 100%Est. 58–72 vs 46 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 87%59 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 14 years after last seen
    Height 84%5'6" vs 5'8"
    Weight 27%158 lb vs 265 lb
    Hair 70%Gray vs Brown
    Eyes 60%Brown vs Hazel
    75%Possible
    John Doe — Houston, Texas
    UP16129 • Found Nov 4, 2016
    View case
    Sex ✓Male
    Age 85%Est. 45–65 vs 46 when missing
    Race 100%White
    Location 87%57 mi away, same state
    TimingFound 8 years after last seen
    Height 100%5'8" vs 5'8"

    These comparisons are generated automatically from public NamUs case data and are not confirmed identifications. Only DNA, dental or fingerprint comparison by investigators can confirm an identity. If you believe two cases are connected, contact the agency handling the unidentified case.

    Unidentified photos are blurred because many are post-mortem. Tap a photo to reveal it.

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    Forum Posts (1)

    Wendall Elton Lankford, 46 when he vanished, was last seen September 6, 2008, in the Camilla area of... ...Read More
    10/11/2024

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