Cold Case Files: Officials still inquiring about Russian man who went missing from Fayetteville in January of 2023

On January 19, 2023, Valentin Usatyy, a 50-year-old man with a distinctive Russian accent, vanished from Fayetteville, Arkansas. Two years later, his whereabouts remain unknown, leaving authorities and the community searching for answers in a case marked by sparse details and intriguing clues.

Valentin, now 52, is described as a White male, standing 6’1” tall and weighing approximately 210 pounds. He has gray or partially gray hair and brown eyes. At the time of his disappearance, he was last known to be in Fayetteville, in Washington County, though specific circumstances surrounding his last contact are frustratingly vague.

According to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Valentin had no reported activity after January 19, 2023, prompting the creation of a missing person case the following day on NamUs, a national missing persons database.

A key piece of evidence in the case is Valentin’s vehicle: a black 2015 Dodge Durango SUV with a Colorado license plate, EXUTER.

Authorities later discovered the vehicle in Franklin County approximately 60 miles from Fayetteville, but its condition and contents have not been publicly disclosed. T

he Colorado plates hint at a possible connection to another Valentin—potentially Valentin Ustayy, a Christian missionary from Moldova who relocated to the U.S. with his family in 2014.

This individual, whose last name differs by two transposed letters, spoke at a prayer service for a Ukrainian organization in Loveland, Colorado, in 2022. While the Colorado link is compelling, authorities have not confirmed whether the missionary and the missing man are the same person.

Valentin’s case is unusual for its lack of personal details.

No information about his employment, family, or local ties in Fayetteville has been released, which has puzzled investigators and missing persons advocates.

The Charley Project, another prominent missing persons database, maintains an active profile for Valentin, underscoring the ongoing nature of the investigation.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office, is leading the investigation. They urge anyone with information to contact them at (479) 444-5712 or the Fayetteville Police Department’s non-emergency line at (479) 587-3555.

Valentin Usatyy’s disappearance raises more questions than answers. Was he transient, passing through Arkansas, or did he have deeper roots in the area? What led to his SUV being abandoned in Franklin County?

As the search continues, authorities and the public are left piecing together the mystery of a man who seemingly vanished without a trace.

If you have any information about Valentin Usatyy or his whereabouts, please contact the authorities immediately.