The family of a 67-year-old man from Grace, Vieux Fort, is holding on to hope nearly three weeks after his unexplained disappearance, as search efforts continue and questions remain unanswered.
Augustin Fontenelle vanished in the early hours of Sunday, May 11, after reportedly leaving his home barefoot and shirtless, wearing only a pair of short khaki pants. Since that morning, there has been no confirmed sighting of him.
His son, Augustus Theodore, described the situation as emotionally draining. “It’s a 50/50 chance at this point — he could be alive or he could be gone,” he said, adding that the family is struggling to sleep or eat under the emotional weight of the ordeal.
Fontenelle is believed to have gone into a forested area behind the family home, a location he often retreated to for solitude. While such behavior had occurred before, his extended absence this time has sparked growing fear.
Family members also shared concerns about his mental health. According to Theodore, his father had recently been acting unusually, often speaking about the house collapsing and expressing paranoid thoughts. These signs had raised red flags in the days leading up to his disappearance.
On the morning he left, Fontenelle’s brother reportedly tried to stop him from exiting the home and asked where he was going. Fontenelle replied simply, “I will come back.” When physically restrained, he threatened violence before walking away.
Theodore believes that a comment made about possibly tying Fontenelle up and taking him to the hospital may have triggered his final departure. “After that, he left—and never returned,” he recounted.
Despite the distress, the family remains hopeful. Theodore noted that Fontenelle knows the surrounding terrain very well, particularly the busier areas, which he may be deliberately avoiding to stay unseen.
“By God’s grace, I am hoping and praying we may find him alive,” Theodore said. The family has continued searching and remains in contact with authorities and community members who may have any useful information.
Fontenelle is remembered by loved ones as a lively character, often cracking jokes and bringing humor to the household. “His voice was always the loudest in the yard,” his son said. “We just want him back home.”