The person at the center of this case
Lester John Lyon
Missing Person · Open
65 years waiting · since 1961
Missing Person: Lester John Lyon
Justice for Lester John Lyon — the trail went cold in 1961, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
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vehicle
Lead #1Why was Lester's car found in an unusual location at Rock Springs and how did it get there if the caretaker never saw him enter the park?
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evidence
Lead #2What was the significance of the 2x4 inch index card found in the car with Lester's name and family member's address?
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location
Lead #3Lester knew the paths around Rock Springs well after six months of regular visits—could he have ventured into the swamp voluntarily or been forced into it?
Lester John Lyon, a 37-year-old man, disappeared on April 26, 1961, after leaving for work to make collections in the Orlando area. His abandoned car was found at Rock Springs (Kelly Park) in a location where he typically parked, yet the park caretaker had not seen him enter that day. Despite extensive searches by military helicopters and law enforcement in the surrounding swamp in early May 1961, no trace of Lester has been found, leaving his fate unknown after more than six decades.
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
⏰
timeline
Lead #4Why was there a two-day delay between April 26th disappearance and the April 28th missing person report?
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witness
Lead #5What additional details might the acquaintance who last saw Lester on April 25th provide about his demeanor or plans?
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Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
NamUs case MP160655. Missing person: Lester John Lyon.
Last known contact: 1961-04-26 in Orlando, Orange, FL. Circumstances: Lester was last seen on April 26th, 1961, leaving for work.
He was supposed to make collections in Apopka and Winter Garden. His car was found in Rock Springs (now known as Kelly Park).
Lester had been a regular at Rock Springs for the previous six months. At park closing, the park caretaker noticed Lester’s car abandoned and not in Lester’s usual parking spot.
Also, he had not seen Lester’s car enter the park that day. A 2x4 inch index card was found in the car with Lester’s name and the name and address of a family member.
On April 28th, 1961, a missing person report was filed by that family member. On May 3rd, 1961, helicopters from McCoy Air Base and Sanford Naval Air Station searched the area for Lester while law enforcement and family searched ‘along the edge of the big swamp’.
The next day, May 4th, law enforcement interviewed an acquaintance of Lester who had last seen Lester on Tuesday April 25th, the day before he went missing, about noon. He was heading in the direction of the second landing.
Lester knew the paths around the springs very well. Law enforcement searched a small portion of the big swamp and found nothing.
Demographics: 37 years, Male, White / Caucasian. Physical description: 5 ft 11 in, 195 lbs, hair: Black, eyes: Gray.
Investigating agency: Orange County Sheriff's Office | 38822 | 1961-04-28.
Timeline of Events
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1961-04-25
noonLast confirmed sighting
Acquaintance saw Lester heading toward the second landing at Rock Springs
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1961-04-26
Lester goes missing
Left for work to make collections in Apopka and Winter Garden; never arrived at destinations
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1961-04-28
Missing person report filed
Family member filed report after Lester failed to return home
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1961-05-03
Aerial search conducted
Helicopters from McCoy Air Base and Sanford Naval Air Station searched the area; law enforcement and family searched along the edge of the big swamp
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1961-05-04
Swamp search
Law enforcement searched a small portion of the big swamp with no results
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:April 25, 1961 at Invalid Date
Last Updated:September 28, 2026
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Phone: 4072547200
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Case Information
Incident:April 25, 1961 at Invalid Date
Last Updated:September 28, 2026
Have Information?
Any information, no matter how small, could be crucial to solving this case.
Phone: 4072547200
You can remain anonymous