(Jan. 29) For nearly two years, authorities in Tennessee have been investigating the disappearance of a 52-year-old father of two who vanished without a trace.
Michael Hearon's family describes him as an "easygoing" and "fun-loving" guy. Born and raised in east Tennessee, the third-generation homebuilder had everything he wanted in life. Unfortunately, that life took an unexpected turn in 2008.
On Saturday, Aug. 23, 2008, Hearon called his sons, Matt and Andy Hearon, and informed them that he was leaving his condo in Maryville, Tenn., to mow the lawn at a house he owned in nearby Happy Valley. Not long after placing the call, he went by Andy's house to pick up a lawnmower. Andy then watched as his dad drove away onto Highway 321, not realizing that it would be the last time he would see his father.
"Friends who went to look at the cattle the next day noticed Mike's truck parked at the end of the road with the trailer containing the mower still attached to the truck," Mike's daughter-in-law, Jamey Hearon, told AOL News. "He normally parked his truck at the end of the road to load and unload the trailer, then moved it closer to the house. Mike's parents, who live at an adjacent property, went to his house the next day but did not go inside or knock on the door."
On Monday morning, Mike's parents returned to his house, only to discover that his truck was still parked in the same spot. Concerned, they entered the house but found no sign of him. A search of the surrounding property also proved to be futile.
"His parents found his keys, cell phone, money clip (with credit cards, license and money), and gun inside the truck," Jamey said. "When Matt and Andy arrived at the house, they discovered that one of their dad's four-wheelers was missing."
Speaking with neighbors, the family learned that Hearon had been seen riding his ATV on the road near his house on the day that he disappeared. Worried that he could have been involved in an accident, his sons spent the remainder of the day searching all 75 acres of their father's property. When they were unable to locate their dad or his ATV, they contacted the Blount County Sheriff's Department and filed a missing-person report.
"We conducted an extensive two-week search in that area," Detective Mike Seratt said in an interview with AOL News. "We had just about every agency available out looking the National Park Service, Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, the sheriff's office and a specialized team that does recovery operations in mountainous terrain. Bloodhounds were also brought out, but there was a two- to three-day period during this search where it rained, making it hard for the dogs to pick up a scent."
According to Seratt, the first and only clue in the case was found on Aug. 26, when Mike's ATV was located roughly a mile from his house. It was not wrecked or damaged.
"It was up in a rural area near a cabin," Seratt said. "It was off the road about 25 or 30 yards. We searched the cabin and the surrounding area but didn't turn up anything."
Throughout the course of the investigation, Seratt interviewed nearly 200 people but found no indication that anyone had a grudge against Hearon.
"He was a well-liked gentleman in the community," Seratt said. "He built a lot of houses in the community, and he had a lot of friends. Everyone we talked to had something nice to say about him. He was the type of guy that could get along with anybody."
Seratt said that there is no concrete evidence suggesting what happened to Mike on the day he went missing.
"We got no evidence pointing toward a criminal act, and that is our biggest problem," Seratt said. "It is a very bizarre situation. You always second guess yourself, especially in a case like this. You got so many possibilities to go with, and your mind is always moving, thinking of what you have done and what you can do differently."
Meanwhile, Hearon's family continues to seek out the answers to the mystery of his disappearance.
"There are so many things I think of when I think of Mike, and I am so thankful that they are good things, but I do feel our family has been cheated of many more memories we should have with him," Jamey said. "Mike talked about looking forward to becoming a grandfather and things he wanted to do with his future grandchildren. It breaks my heart to think of how great he would be with grandkids and what he would have brought to their lives. It's just not fair or right. Our family wonders every day what has happened to Mike and miss him very much. It is something we will continue to struggle with, but we are not giving up. We know someone out there knows something about his whereabouts, and we hope they will come forward with this information."
Michael Edwin Hearon is described as a white male, 5 feet, 10 inches tall, weighing 185 pounds, with dark brown hair and hazel eyes. He was last seen wearing khaki cargo shorts, a faded red T-shirt and sandals. A $35,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to finding out what happened to him. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Blount County Sheriff's Department at 865-273-5001.
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/artic...michael-hearon-baffles-investigators/19337889
http://www.findmikehearon.com/