The internet has a weird way of taking a name and twisting it until the truth is buried under layers of TikTok rumors and "true crime" speculation. If you’ve spent any time scrolling through mystery threads lately, you’ve probably seen the names Madison Scott and "old guy" pop up in the same breath. People love a puzzle. They love to connect dots that aren't actually there.
But here’s the thing. When you look at the actual facts of the Madison Scott case—a story that has haunted British Columbia for over a decade—the "old guy" narrative is often more about internet gossip than what’s actually in the police files.
Madison Scott, or "Maddy" to her friends, was just 20 years old when she vanished from a campsite at Hogsback Lake in 2011. For twelve long years, her face was on every billboard in the region. Then, in 2023, the search finally ended in the most heartbreaking way possible.
The Night Everything Changed at Hogsback Lake
It was May 2011. Maddy went to a party. It wasn't some massive rando-fest at first, just a gathering of friends celebrating a birthday. She went with a friend, Jordi Bolduc, and they set up a tent.
Things got messy.
As the night went on, more people showed up because the party was mentioned on Facebook. A fight broke out. Jordi, who had apparently been injured or was just over the vibe, decided to leave around midnight. She asked Maddy to come with her. Maddy stayed. She didn't want to leave her truck and her gear behind.
She was last seen around 3:00 AM.
When people talk about Madison Scott and the old guy today, they’re usually referencing theories about who might have been at that party or who owned the land where she was eventually found. There has been endless chatter about older men who were allegedly hanging around the periphery of the social circle, but the RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) has been notoriously tight-lipped about specific suspects.
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Finding Maddy: The 2023 Breakthrough
For over a decade, the case was cold. Not "forgotten" cold—the family kept it alive with a $100,000 reward—but there were no breaks. That changed in May 2023.
The RCMP announced they had found Maddy’s remains.
They weren't in the lake. They weren't in some deep mountain crevice. They were on a rural property just a few kilometers away from the campsite. Specifically, the property was east of Vanderhoof.
This is where the "old guy" search terms usually peak. The property where Madison Scott’s remains were discovered belonged to a local family. In the aftermath of the discovery, public records and news reports, including those from the CBC, noted that the land was owned by the father of two individuals who had been at the party the night Maddy vanished.
Why the "Old Guy" Label Is Complicated
Honestly, the internet is obsessed with the idea of a "creepy old man" villain. In this case, the property owner—an older man by definition of being the father of party-goers—became the center of intense online scrutiny.
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But let's be clear:
- The RCMP executed a search warrant.
- They identified the remains.
- They have not publicly named a suspect or laid charges as of early 2026.
It’s easy to see why people get frustrated. You find the body on a specific property, and yet, the case remains "active and ongoing." To the average observer, it feels like a slam dunk. To a prosecutor, "remains found on property" doesn't automatically equal "property owner is the killer." There’s a huge burden of proof regarding how she got there and who was involved.
Misinformation and the TikTok Effect
You’ve probably seen those videos. A grainy photo of Maddy, a dramatic soundtrack, and a voiceover talking about a "mysterious old guy" who lived in the woods.
Stop.
Most of that is pure fiction designed for clicks. There was a theory involving a man named Fribjon Bjornson, who was older than Maddy and had some social connection to her. He was murdered in a separate, gruesome incident in 2012. While police investigated a link, they eventually stated they didn't believe the cases were significantly connected.
Then there's the "Highway of Tears" connection. Maddy’s disappearance happened in the general region of Highway 16, where dozens of women—mostly Indigenous—have gone missing or been murdered. But investigators have consistently said Maddy’s case doesn't fit the specific patterns of the Highway of Tears files.
Where the Investigation Stands Now
It is 2026. Madison Scott would have been in her mid-30s.
The Scott family is still waiting for a trial. In a 2025 statement, they mentioned that while finding Maddy brought some relief, it actually created more questions than answers. The Major Crime Section’s Special Projects Unit is still on it.
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The "old guy" narrative is a distraction from the forensic reality. The police are likely looking for DNA, digital footprints from 2011 (which are harder to trace than modern ones), and that one witness who has been too scared to talk for fifteen years.
Actionable Steps for True Crime Followers
If you’re following the Madison Scott case, the best thing you can do is stick to verified reporting. Speculation about "old guys" or unnamed neighbors often leads to harassment of people who might be innocent or, worse, alerts the actual perpetrator to what the public knows.
- Follow the RCMP North District updates: They are the only official source for charge announcements.
- Support the Maddy Scott Poker Ride: The family has used this event for years to raise awareness. Even though she’s been found, the fund helps support other families of the missing.
- Check the Facts: If a TikToker claims to have "solved" the identity of the person involved, ask for a source. If the source isn't a major news outlet or a police press release, it's probably a theory, not a fact.
The discovery of Maddy's remains was a massive step, but the "who" and the "why" are still the missing pieces of the puzzle. Until the RCMP walks someone into a courtroom, the stories about Madison Scott and the old guy remain exactly that—stories.