What would you do if you were on vacation in an unfamiliar place and sure people were out harm you? I would try to get the heck out of dodge as quickly as possible. And if I’d placed my family in danger I wouldn’t contact them. Nor would I if I thought they might be part of the plot.
If I had a day to plan ahead, I might grab cash out of someone’s purse or wallet, buy a burner phone and stash shoes someplace nearby. But if I thought someone I was staying with was part of the danger, I might walk outside with absolutely nothing if I felt an immediate threat or wanted to avoid their suspicion.
To get away I might opportunistically swipe a scooter, golf cart, boat or jet-ski. But most likely I would talk my way into someone’s car w/an excuse about losing my wallet/phone/shoes and have them drive me somewhere. Somebody swiped my stuff at the beach. Angry spouse drove off with all my stuff. Bachelor party buddies thought it would be hysterical to pack up and head for home while I was sleeping on the couch. I’m on one of those reality shows where you’re beimg chased by “finders” and have to stay hidden to win the money. Whatever I thought might work w/whomever I ran into. At that point I wouldn’t care where they were headed. Anywhere would be fine. I’d just want to get out of there unseen. Maybe ask if I could borrow some money and reimburse it when I was reunited w/my possessions.
Once I felt I’d escaped imminent danger I could be more intentional about where to head next. I wouldn’t go anyplace people would expect to find me or contact any of my current friends. But there are a handful of old ones I haven’t talked to since school days that I trust and might reach out to in a pinch. Some of whom I’ve had no reason to even mention to my spouse.
There are also a few places I’ve visited over the years where I have no ties that I might head to if I had to go someplace new. (Ironically, Hilton Head would be one of those places).
With that in mind, it may be worth reaching out to Stanley’s old friends from high school, camp, sport teams, college or an early job. Ex-girlfriends too. Contact authorities in his hometown, college town and favorite vacation spots. And ask HHI locals to contact anyone visiting from out of town who left by car the within 48 hours of Stanley going missing. He may have bummed a ride and they have no idea he’s been reported missing.
My heart goes out to his family and to Stanley himself. How terrifying for them all! Prayers he is found safe and very soon.
I originally thought he would be on the island staying at an unoccupied home. Most of the homes if not all on HH have security systems and would alarm if windows or doors are broken. There are some that do hide a key on the property, especially rentals, usually in an electric box, somewhere near a deck or patio, using a key would NOT trip an alarm. (I have a vacation home, up the road from HH and we have two hidden keys)
As to searching all the homes...folks in the south are reluctant to open their doors for searches. We've seen this in many missing children cases.
I agree, Stan is not on HH. I think he left the island quickly, given his thoughts of "they are out to get me". I would head inland and look for "day work".... landscape, odd jobs, farm work (this is a heavy agricultural area inland)..these pay cash at the end of the day and no one cares about your past or present. Food and clothing fairly easy to obtain, folks leave shoes and clothing outside, hanging on a makeshift line or porch, dumpster diving for food, lots farms, walk right up and eat all you want at night. Lots of free meals at churches, feeding the homeless. It would be easy to in bed in a homeless camp/group.
Focus on the underworld ... folks who don't care about your past, don't have access to the news, live on a day by day basis.
Some thoughts on what would I do....
Design flyer, photos of Stan and various situations and clothing... if he had a beard, long pants, etc. Include all skills/interest he has, area he maybe drawn to. (He will rely on skills to survive) Is he physically fit, any weakness that he may have (bad back/vision), physical scars.
Focus on Stan, not how he disappeared.
Stan is now homeless, focus on where the homeless go.
Email distributions
•All surrounding mental health agencies, a mental health worker may have spotted him with one of their clients or at a food bank or homeless shelter.
•Hospitals administration asking to post in their emergency room.
•Small mom and pop businesses ... they can and do pay cash under the table.
•Farms and local farmers, this time of year they don't have time or care to watch the news. Very active time harvesting crops, daily.
•Food banks, free meal sites
•All vacation rental agencies
•Bus stations ...far and wide
•Grocery stores (Walmart has a wall of Missing Person poster)
Facebook
Set up new account ...
Stan missing
•Join every local, far and wide groups ...all the local areas have marketplace, local what's happening, churches, history, private vacation rental sites etc. Post "Be on lookout"
•Stans "old" friends
•TV, radio pages
Misc..
•Look at TV FB pages for a reporter who might do a feature story, live interviews with family, show lots of various photos, focus on Stans habits, skills, features. Getting local reports involved ....free advertising and most have lots of followers.
•Hit up the national news site, so far only one has covered the story
•Fund billboards surrounding area (do a go f und me, if needed)
•I would reach out up the coast, especially Myrtle Beach. MB has a large homeless/underground network, lots of cash work opportunities, easy to steal clothing and food from campsites, lots of transience folks.
HH law enforcement can only do so much and as time passes, less and less and crime will take priority.
All my opinion and being very familiar went South Carolina North Carolina inland and coastal area for over 50 years.
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