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

[justpassingby8]

@BayouBelle_LA I read that as well. I find it hard to believe no one else saw anything, especially at that time. It may not be that bridge, but that is the neighborhood he stayed in, was last seen in, his cards were last used in, and his cell phone last pinged from.

@TeaTime Thank you for sharing that information (about the lights and futile efforts). I don't think they have completely ruled out foul play, but considering the source of the update (police) and the timing coinciding with the last contact, it really shifted the search.

 

[Mommy2411]

Bumping…any updates? Also, did he have a rental car when he flew in? Is the rental car missing or was it found parked somewhere?

 

[Mommy2411]

If they think he jumped off the bridge, why aren’t they doing any searches there to find his body?

 

[MimosaMornings]

New Orleans again embraces Mardi Gras — with constraints — The Washington Post

“In December, the city announced it was trimming routes of its biggest parades due to a police shortage. The number of officers on the force is now under 1,100, according to the Police Association of New Orleans. That’s far below the city’s goal of 1,600 officers.”

Mardi Gras started on January 6th with a couple of parades that night from my recollection.

So you’ve got the start of Mardi Gras, a police shortage with a greatly elevated crime environment.

Had Michael ever been to New Orleans prior to this business trip?

What other cities had he visited for establishing walking tours?

 

[Mommy2411]

@justpassingby8 Hi, I’m so sorry about your missing friend/coworker. Any updates to share? How is the family holding up? I don’t believe the story of someone jumping from the bridge because why was it only mentioned 7 days later? It sounds like they don’t want to deal with this missing person case and will say anything to make it go away. Are there any searches there to find him by either PD or the family/community?
Did he have a rental car?

 

[justpassingby8]

Bumping…any updates? Also, did he have a rental car when he flew in? Is the rental car missing or was it found parked somewhere?

No updates. I dont know.

 

[justpassingby8]

If they think he jumped off the bridge, why aren’t they doing any searches there to find his body?

The family and search party have been. I dont know if the police have been. From what I have read, during the winter bodies will sink and not come up until the spring.

 

[justpassingby8]

New Orleans again embraces Mardi Gras — with constraints — The Washington Post

“In December, the city announced it was trimming routes of its biggest parades due to a police shortage. The number of officers on the force is now under 1,100, according to the Police Association of New Orleans. That’s far below the city’s goal of 1,600 officers.”

Mardi Gras started on January 6th with a couple of parades that night from my recollection.

So you’ve got the start of Mardi Gras, a police shortage with a greatly elevated crime environment.

Had Michael ever been to New Orleans prior to this business trip?

What other cities had he visited for establishing walking tours?

I am not sure how this information (New Orleans familiarity and other cities) would be relevant to this case.

Yes, he definitely could have been the victim of a crime. The beginning of Carnival season, low police numbers, soaring crime..

 

[justpassingby8]

@justpassingby8 Hi, I’m so sorry about your missing friend/coworker. Any updates to share? How is the family holding up? I don’t believe the story of someone jumping from the bridge because why was it only mentioned 7 days later? It sounds like they don’t want to deal with this missing person case and will say anything to make it go away. Are there any searches there to find him by either PD or the family/community?
Did he have a rental car?

I do not have any updates. They are holding up just about as well as you can imagine.

I agree with your theory on the jumping story. I haven't completely ruled out the possibility of suicide, but an officer being close enough to identify a jumper who leapt less than 24 hours after a missing person report and this was not mentioned to the family for a week.. it doesn't make a lot of sense.

The family and search party have been searching the river, I don't know what the police are doing. I don't know the current update, but from what I have learned, jumpers in the winter don't turn up until the weather is warm.

At this point the belief is that Michael is no longer alive, as there has been no activity since the last day he was heard from. If I hear any updates I will let you all know.

 

[Sbm]

I do not have any updates. They are holding up just about as well as you can imagine.

I agree with your theory on the jumping story. I haven't completely ruled out the possibility of suicide, but an officer being close enough to identify a jumper who leapt less than 24 hours after a missing person report and this was not mentioned to the family for a week.. it doesn't make a lot of sense.

The family and search party have been searching the river, I don't know what the police are doing. I don't know the current update, but from what I have learned, jumpers in the winter don't turn up until the weather is warm.

At this point the belief is that Michael is no longer alive, as there has been no activity since the last day he was heard from. If I hear any updates I will let you all know.

Hi,
Wondering if you had any thoughts on his LinkedIn page. Some of the things written there, including the banner at the top seemed pretty odd.

 

[CTPDMom]

@meanmaryjean Hello. Yes, they are 100% sure it was an officer.

I understand, can you confirm it was a New Orleans police officer? If yes, please encourage the family to press, press, press that department for a written report. I cannot fathom any officer not reporting a jumper to his own department.
If no, if it was a police officer from another jurisdiction, see if they can confirm where he works and encourage THAT department to press their officer to make a sworn statement of the events he witnessed and what he did (or did not) do after that (i.e. Did he call 911? Did he stop a local officer to report?). This doesn't 'smell' right in terms of a LEO not making any report of this. Hope that helps.

Keeping his family and friends in my prayers. Thank you for your update.

 

[EGirl]

I do not have any updates. They are holding up just about as well as you can imagine.

I agree with your theory on the jumping story. I haven't completely ruled out the possibility of suicide, but an officer being close enough to identify a jumper who leapt less than 24 hours after a missing person report and this was not mentioned to the family for a week.. it doesn't make a lot of sense.

The family and search party have been searching the river, I don't know what the police are doing. I don't know the current update, but from what I have learned, jumpers in the winter don't turn up until the weather is warm.

At this point the belief is that Michael is no longer alive, as there has been no activity since the last day he was heard from. If I hear any updates I will let you all know.

I'm so sorry about your missing friend. I keep checking this thread, praying for a good outcome. Just a note on the water and bodies..... the waters here are relatively warm year round. I'm in TX and it was 90 degrees last week. Pretty similar in LA. My parents live on a River in south TX, our dear friend and neighbor was coming down the river, hit a stump and was thrown from his boat. In winter. He surfaced 3 days later in almost the same spot he went in.

I am VERY suspicious of the 'jumping' story. Is there a state agency that can get involved? I think they'd be interested in knowing that a law enforcement officer watched someone jump from a bridge, and not action was taken.

JMO

 

[Kristin Esq.]

@justpassingby8 I have a question for you. Is there any particular reason (religious or otherwise) that we don't see his family in the media pleading to find him? Thanks!

 

[justpassingby8]

Hi,
Wondering if you had any thoughts on his LinkedIn page. Some of the things written there, including the banner at the top seemed pretty odd.

It’s just creative writing.

 

[justpassingby8]

@justpassingby8 I have a question for you. Is there any particular reason (religious or otherwise) that we don't see his family in the media pleading to find him? Thanks!

I don’t know why.

 

[Kristin Esq.]

@justpassingby8 - anything new?

 

[bykerladi]

Well, its Purim time. Here's hoping he's having some good hamantasch somewhere.

 

[justpassingby8]

@justpassingby8 - anything new?

Hello,

I haven't spoken with his family since the last time I posted. However, I am under the impression that if there were anything noteworthy to share, they would reach out to me. If that happens I will keep this board updated.

 

[Kristin Esq.]

Hello,

I haven't spoken with his family since the last time I posted. However, I am under the impression that if there were anything noteworthy to share, they would reach out to me. If that happens I will keep this board updated.

Thank you!

 

[CHEL]

Could this be him?

Body found between train cars along the riverfront in French Quarter, NOPD says