I think its just wishfull thinking if you think Vic is still alive. People just want to think hes alive as hes going to be the main chararcter. There is a slim chance he's still alive after the drug deal. (I'm gonna slap myself if this is not the case... )
Or we hear him on the radio...
Or a ped says something like 'Did you hear about that guy in Liberty who killed loads of people' or something like that.