Peter went to town to get his wife's prescription and milk on Friday, July 24, 2009. He met his son from out of state coming in for Peter's granddaughter's wedding the next day and had coffee with him and grandkids.
He then went on to finish his errands. He picked up his wife's prescription, went on the the grocery store, picked up milk and then VANISHED.
He was last seen at 11:45 SM Friday July 24th getting milk at the grocery store. He was expected home by 3:00. He lives about 20 miles north of the grocery store where he was last seen.
His granddaughter was getting married the next day and he was looking forward to seeing all the family.
He did not show up at home by 3:00 as expected, then 4, 5, 7. The family members began frantically looking for his car. No luck.
On Saturday morning, the family began looking for him and his car again. About 7:00 pm Saturday, a local man called the family and said he was told that some one saw his car stuck down a long minimum maintainence road. The family went out to check it and it was Peter's car. They began another frantic search in the heavy brush and woods near where his car was found. Many of the family members skipped the wedding on Saturday to continue looking for Peter.
On Sunday morning, the Cass County sheriff's department became involved and helped coordinate the search. We have searched all the woods, brush, and swamps within a mile of where the car was found.
We have double, triple and even quadruple seached areas around the car. We have now searched about 8 square miles in the area.
We have not found the slightest clue that Peter was even there except for his car. He was wearing a brown shirt, light tan colored pants, wore a red, white, and blue beret, cigars, lighter, had a cane and crucifix with him. We found nothing. We have even been watching for any human defication in the woods, nothing.
Peter had no dementia or alzheimers. He was a very healthy 82 year old man who spent his days helping others. He regularly brought the elderly and incapacitated to doctors appointments. He brought groceries to homebound elderly.
His disappearance is COMPLETELY out of character for him.
How could this healthy sane man make so many mistakes to get lost in the woods. First, took the wrong road to go home (co rd 32), second, took another wrong dead end road (85th Ave), third, go down a POSTED dead end minimum maintenance road where the grass and brush was higher than the car, fourth, get stuck in a mud hole, fifth, get out of the car and start walking through thick brush and woods with NO trails.
IF he did drive back there, why would he not simply turn around and walk back down the road to the first (or second, third, fourth, etc) house and ask to use a phone.
THIS ENTIRE SITUATION DOES NOT MAKE SENSE THAT PETER MADE ALL THESE ERRORS. HE WAS A SMART MAN.
The Cass County sheriff's department says that it does not suspect foul play. Doesn't make sense, does it?
I am not a family member just a family friend and active searcher. I have an 87 year old father and can relate to the family's desparation.
helpfindpeter@gmail.com
THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.
NORRAD