NY NY - David Bacon, 22, Waterford, 10 April 1969

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David M. Bacon
Missing since April 10, 1969 from Waterford, New York
Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics

Date Of Birth: July 28, 1946
Age at Time of Disappearance: 22 years old
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male. Blond hair.
Marks, Scars: Tattoos on each arm.
Photos at below link

Circumstances of Disappearance

David Bacon was last seen April 10, 1969 at 23.30, as he left for his factory job, the midnight shift at Behr Manning in Watervliet, a manufacturer known as Norton Co. today. His car was found on Oil Mill Hill the morning after. His paycheck was on the front seat. Police suspected he just left the area with no word to anyone. When Bacon didn't resurface after some time, authorities became suspicious foul play was involved. The case was reopened in 2008 when police received new information about the case, and reopened the investigation as a homicide.


Nelson Costello was arrested in January 2009 and charged with second-degree murder in Bacon's death. Bacon's murder may have been the culmination of a rivalry over a woman. At the time Bacon disappeared, Costello was a part-time constable in Waterford, a position that existed before the town had a formal police department. An accomplice helped the suspect allegedly dispose of the victim's body. That man will not face charges because the statute of limitations for felonies, five years, has run out. There is no statute of limitations on murder. While police began a missing person investigation into Bacon back in 1969, any evidence related to the investigation at the time is now gone, since the file has been purged from police archives.

Bacon was shot to death at Alcathy's Marina, which was located on Flight Lock Road in Waterford. The body may have been buried along the Hudson River in Troy or was taken out of state, possibly to a Southern state.

Bacon quit high school in the early 60s and enlisted in the Navy. He served in Vietnam. Bacon’s address at the time was 334 Hillcrest Street, North Troy, which is in present-day Pleasantdale in the town of Schaghticoke.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

New York State Police
Loudonville
518-783-2211

Source Information:

The Times Union
The Daily Gazette
The Doe Network: Case File 4004DMNY

LINK:

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/4004dmny.html
DBacon1.jpg
DBacon2.jpg
DBacon3.jpg
 
From his Doe Network link:

Nelson Costello admitted to killing David Bacon in Waterford, NY. As part of his October 2009 plea bargain, Costello stated that Bacon was buried in Virginia along the James River.

I wonder if this is him?
https://identifyus.org/cases/6719
 
A Navy Man...

David Michael Bacon
Missing since April 10, 1969 from Waterford, Rensselaer County, New York
Classification: Endangered Missing

Vital Statistics


Date Of Birth: July 28, 1946
Age at Time of Disappearance: 22 years old
Height and Weight at Time of Disappearance: 5'8"; 145 lbs.
Distinguishing Characteristics: White male. Light brown hair.
Marks, Scars: Tattoos of 1) heart, flowers, arrow, & "Mary" on upper left arm; scroll, & "Dave" on upper right arm.; and cross on left forearm.
Clothing: Green slacks, black checkered shirt, and black ski jacket.
Dentals: Available
DNA: Available

Circumstances of Disappearance


David Bacon was last seen April 10, 1969 at 23.30, as he left for his factory job, the midnight shift at Behr Manning in Watervliet, a manufacturer known as Norton Co. today. His car was found on Oil Mill Hill the morning after. His paycheck was on the front seat. Police suspected he just left the area with no word to anyone. When Bacon didn't resurface after some time, authorities became suspicious foul play was involved. The case was reopened in 2008 when police received new information about the case, and reopened the investigation as a homicide.

Nelson Costello was arrested in January 2009 and charged with second-degree murder in Bacon's death. Bacon's murder may have been the culmination of a rivalry over a woman. At the time Bacon disappeared, Costello was a part-time constable in Waterford, a position that existed before the town had a formal police department. An accomplice helped the suspect allegedly dispose of the victim's body. That man will not face charges because the statute of limitations for felonies, five years, has run out. There is no statute of limitations on murder. While police began a missing person investigation into Bacon back in 1969, any evidence related to the investigation at the time is now gone, since the file has been purged from police archives.

Bacon was shot to death at Alcathy's Marina, which was located on Flight Lock Road in Waterford.

Bacon quit high school in the early 60s and enlisted in the Navy. He served in Vietnam. Bacon’s address at the time was 334 Hillcrest Street, North Troy, which is in present-day Pleasantdale in the town of Schaghticoke.

Nelson Costello admitted to killing David Bacon in Waterford, NY. As part of his October 2009 plea bargain, Costello stated that Bacon was buried in Virginia along the James River.

Investigators
If you have any information concerning this case, please contact:

New York State Police
Loudonville
518-783-2211

Agency Case Number: GSBI01187

NCIC Number: M-897733544

Please refer to this number when contacting any agency with information regarding this case.

Source Information:

The Times Union
The Daily Gazette
Namus
The Doe Network: Case File 4004DMNY

LINK:

http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/4004dmny.html
 
This spring will mark the 50 year anniversary of David Bacon's murder. His remains have not yet been located.
 
  • bacon_david.jpg
  • bacon_david3.jpg
  • david_michael_bacon_4.jpg
  • david_michael_bacon_6.jpg
  • david_michael_bacon_9.jpg
Bacon, circa 1969; Nelson Costello in 2009
  • Missing Since 04/10/1969
  • Missing From Watervliet, New York
  • Classification Endangered Missing
  • Sex Male
  • Race White
  • Date of Birth 07/28/1946 (77)
  • Age 22 years old
  • Height and Weight 5'8, 145 pounds

  • Clothing/Jewelry Description A black ski jacket, a black checkered shirt and green slacks.

  • Distinguishing Characteristics Caucasian male. Light brown hair, brown eyes. Bacon has tattoos of a heart, flowers, an arrow and the name "Mary" on his upper left arm, tattoos of a scroll and his nickname "Dave" on his upper right arm, and a tattoo of a cross on his left forearm.

Details of Disappearance​


In January 2009, Nelson E. Costello was arrested and charged with murder and two counts of witness tampering in Bacon's case. Costello was Bacon's age and worked as a constable in Waterford, New York in 1969. He carried a gun as part of his job.

Costello later moved to Prescott, Arizona. A photograph of him is posted with this case summary. In October 2008, when he realized the police were investigating him for Bacon's possible homicide, Costello allegedly contacted a witness twice and tried to stop the person from giving information to investigators.

Authorities believe Costello killed Bacon in a rivalry over a woman whom Bacon was engaged to. They theorized Bacon was shot to death at Alcathy's Marina on Flight Lock Road in Waterford. They don't believe Costello was on duty at the time of the murder. He allegedly had an accomplice who helped him dispose of Bacon's body, but the accomplice cannot be charged because the statute of limitations has run out.

In October 2009, on the eve of his trial, Costello pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter. He confessed that in his guise as a constable, he pulled Bacon over while Bacon was on his way home from work. Costello told him the captain needed to speak with him. He drove Bacon to an area near a public boat launch and shot him three times in the chest, killing him.

Costello stated he put Bacon's body in the trunk of his car, drove it to Bedford County, Virginia, and buried it along the James River. It may have been washed out to sea in a hurricane that struck the area in 1985 and flooded the river. In January 2010, Costello was sentenced to five to seventeen years in prison. He apologized for his actions at the sentencing.

Bacon lived in the 300 block of Hillcrest Street in North Troy, New York in 1969; the area is now part of Schaghticoke, New York. He dropped out of Lansingburgh High School and joined the Navy. He served in Vietnam and was a member of the Navy Reserves at the time of his disappearance.

Bacon has few family members left; he had no children, and his siblings and parents are all deceased. His brother-in-law is still alive and stated he had been a father figure for Bacon prior to his disappearance. Foul play is suspected in his case due to the circumstances involved.

 

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