Found Deceased LA - Michael Gelfand 33, left NJ for business, didn't return home, New Orleans, 6 Jan 2022 *Reward*

[Kristin Esq.]

Has anyone seen the article of the woman who went missing the same day in NOLA? Missing woman case in N.O. may be tied to murder (klfy.com)
Loved ones of Becky Hendrix are frantic, desperate to find out where she may be.

Becky was reported missing to the New Orleans Police Department on January 6, she hasn’t been seen or heard from since. Becky’s mom says she’s a mother of two who would never go this long without talking to her son and daughter.

Could it just be a coincidence or something more? I don't think we've ever heard anything about the business or people he was there to meet with and what it was for. Maybe business was what he wanted others to believe?
JMO IMO MOO

There's no link. Becky's mom is on the thread providing some details.

 

[ms_writer]

Unfortunately, the one thing that does bind the two cases is that both went missing during an incredible crime wave in New Orleans. NOLA news is local to me, and while the city has always had its share of crime like other metro areas, the current trend is bad enough that there are petitions floating around to bring in the National Guard. There have been many shootings on I-10, car-jackings in broad daylight, a mom's car shot up when she got lost and took kids to the wrong park for soccer practice, etc -- all with no arrests. I've been afraid from the start that Michael could have been a crime victim, even if he initially failed to return home for other reasons.

 

[Allynator]

I live just east of Baton Rouge, and yes, the amount of crime is unbelievable down here. This is such an interesting case. I have not heard anything in my local news circles.

 

[ms_writer]

I live just east of Baton Rouge, and yes, the amount of crime is unbelievable down here. This is such an interesting case. I have not heard anything in my local news circles.

I haven't seen any further news either. I wish a reporter or NOPD would follow up, especially given the apparent river searches. I wonder if those were commissioned by his family/community, or if they were led by LE.

 

[wendybtn]

Sounds like he's just out enjoying his freedom...

I have known people to go to New Orleans and not return for a few weeks or months. They were having such a good time, they just stayed.

 

[Kristin Esq.]

I'm just wondering why isn't there any more news on this? Any ideas?

 

[Rosiebones]

I'm just wondering why isn't there any more news on this? Any ideas?

He has returned home and his family and community has closed ranks around him and he is receiving the support and help he needs.
LE was notified and case closed. He broke no laws and is an adult. MOO MOO MOO MOO

 

[StarRemy8]

He has returned home and his family and community has closed ranks around him and he is receiving the support and help he needs.
LE was notified and case closed. He broke no laws and is an adult. MOO MOO MOO MOO

So you are thinking that he is indeed and alive and has been found? I might have missed something but most of everything I have read leads me to believe he is still missing and/or no longer with us?

 

[Shamrock1]

So you are thinking that he is indeed and alive and has been found? I might have missed something but most of everything I have read leads me to believe he is still missing and/or no longer with us?

The problem is that there isn’t really any “most of everything.” There was one unsubstantiated report claiming to know LE’s belief that he drowned, and that’s it to my knowledge.

My guess is that something potentially unflattering to him, his family, and/or his community has been discovered, and that he is alive.

 

[StarRemy8]

The problem is that there isn’t really any “most of everything.” There was one unsubstantiated report claiming to know LE’s belief that he drowned, and that’s it to my knowledge.

My guess is that something potentially unflattering to him, his family, and/or his community has been discovered, and that he is alive.

That could very well be the case, I guess I was just going off news stories that are continuing to refer to him as a missing person and that LE is still searching for him. This article is from a little under a week ago and to me it sounds as if this is still active. I would think that if he has been found, whether he returned home or stayed in NOLA or somewhere else, that LE would be notified of this and they would no longer refer to him as missing or be actively searching but I don't know all how that works.

New Jersey man gone missing while on business trip to New Orleans

However, at the same time, I do not see him listed as a missing person on LA's government website. Without going back through the entire thread I don't remember off the top of my head if he ever was officially listed as missing on their site ever either. I wonder if they are still offering a reward? Hoping he was just found safe and he returned to his wife and children as I am sure that was very scary for them.

 

[annpats]

There was a mystery when he went missing, but the mystery of if he's returned or not is even stranger.

A simple statement will do. Then we can move on. There may be people and agencies that are still looking for him.

 

[bykerladi]

Question: Are we so sure people and agencies are still looking for him?

 

[Kristin Esq.]

Question: Are we so sure people and agencies are still looking for him?

That's a great question.

 

[Rosiebones]

So you are thinking that he is indeed and alive and has been found? I might have missed something but most of everything I have read leads me to believe he is still missing and/or no longer with us?

No, I was responding to the question Kristin Esq. posted that asked for any ideas on what may be the case, since all has gone silent on all fronts. MOO MOO MOO

 

[cenazoic]

Small possibly unrelated bit.

These are people signing up to say prayers for Mordy/Michael. The fall-off from 22 Jan to 18 Feb is interesting.

 

[Susikatze]

Small possibly unrelated bit.

These are people signing up to say prayers for Mordy/Michael. The fall-off from 22 Jan to 18 Feb is interesting.

That does not mean much. Its customary to read the whole book of tehillim (psalms) split up between different people and days and thats how it came out. The more word got out, the more people joined and at times just less join. We read them whenever someone needs help or blessings, in times of need (anything, whether financial, in need of a spouse or children) or illness or to protect someone from danger. Also we read them for a couple approaching their wedding.
Its our alltime "secret weapon". Lol.

I hope it helped bring him home.

 

[Susikatze]

But.. the sheet also says "may he be zoche to be brought speedily to kevuras yisroel".
Which definitely means he is deceased and is facing cremation or still in autopsy and people pray that his body is released and brought to a Jewish burial.

 

[Susikatze]

Baruch dayan haemes

 

[Susikatze]

Theoretically it could also mean that he is not found but nobody thinks he is alive and that his body will be found and gets a Jewish burial. But normally we dont normally declare people dead so quickly without any kind of solid proof as it would have severe ramifications on the wife if she happens to remarry but he turns up alive.

I am quite certain they found him deceased.
I also think it is totally legitimate for the family to request silence. Wife and kids and parents would need to go into mourning (shiva and shloshim) and his body needs to be released from autopsy/investigation to get buried Jewishly. Which is a whole procedure in itself.

MOO (from another Orthodox Jew)

 

[cenazoic]

Thanks for interpreting (literally and culturally), @Susikatze. No matter what happened, I hope his wife and children find the answers they need, and remember he loved them.