Found Deceased MA - Achim Bailey, 23, told parents he was going to a bar, Springfield, Hampden County, 11 Jan 2019

[Vail]

Why walk alone on the railroad tracks when there are streets parallel to the tracks?

RSBM It looks like there is a fence between the tracks and the bike path along the river. Maybe he was looking for a way onto that path, or preferred to walk it off quietly vs what looks like a busy/brightly lit sidewalk on Hall of Fame Ave. It is a strange choice, and a long walk. the first things that come to mind are he was heading to meet a ride down there, or he became despondent and chose the tracks for that reason.

 

[cybervampira]

State police assisting in search for missing Springfield man Achim Bailey

State police are assisting Springfield police in the continuing search for missing 23-year-old Achim Bailey.

A state police helicopter is being utilized in the search and the Connecticut River is also being searched.

 

[Eleanor Rigby]

State police assisting in search for missing Springfield man Achim Bailey

From article link above:
"Springfield Police spokesman Ryan Walsh said police were notified a cell phone was located and detectives are working to see if it has any connection to Bailey."
I hope this phone provides a break in the case and leads to the location of AB.

 

[cybervampira]

Father of Achim Bailey, Springfield man missing for nearly 2 weeks, retains hope for son’s safe return

Standing outside the Springfield Police substation at Riverfront Park, Hugh Bailey, the father of Achim Bailey, said that nearly two weeks after his son’s disappearance, he clings to hope that he may yet come home.

“Two nights ago, I dreamt it,” he said.

With his voice sometimes drowned out by the sound of the State Police helicopter overhead, Hugh Bailey said the dream stands out for him because, since his son went missing, he has not been sleeping much.

[...]

 

[audge86]

This article makes it seem as though the phone is his.

Could cellphone found near bridge belong to Achim Bailey? Father of Springfield man missing for nearly 2 weeks is hopeful


"Just before the police arrived, one of the volunteers found a cellphone in the gravel strip between the rail lines just south of the South End Bridge. The man who found it said that when he powered up the phone, a black iPhone, it immediately flashed with several text message alerts addressed to Achim Bailey. The phone was put in a plastic bag, and eventually turned over to the police. "

 

[audge86]

To point out the obvious, the phone was intentionally turned off. The volunteer was able to power it on so it didn't run out of battery

 

[drjones]

hmm... interesting development.

 

[cybervampira]

Family, friends hold on to hope amid search for missing Springfield man

 

[audge86]

I know police work hard. But what is lilely his phone was found close to where it last pinged and on the tracks where he was seen walking.

I feel like it should not have taken this long to locate it

 

[Eleanor Rigby]

IMO, It should be helpful to police to see who he communicated with last. Maybe it will indicate if he was meeting up with / getting a ride with someone. Glad that the phone is functioning, and wasn't smashed, as in some other similar cases. Do volunteer searchers wear gloves? Are they usually trained to handle found objects so as to preserve fingerprints and DNA? It's possible someone other than Achim handled his phone. I'm a bit surprised the volunteer turned it on rather than bagging it and giving it directly to LE. I wonder if that was due to lack of training, due to mistrust of LE, or due to something else. In the Joey LaBute search, I think I recall reading that volunteer searchers were trained in collecting found objects so as to preserve any potential evidence. MOO.

 

[audge86]

Police said 2 searchers touched it and it is now contaminated, unfortunately.

I hope it has information about Achim. I feel like he turned it off and left it there on purpose

 

[Eleanor Rigby]

The article posted above did not make it clear who had organized the search. When police don't step in and organize searches, families are left to cobble together help as best they can, and understandably, mistakes are likely to occur . MOO.

 

[audge86]

It was a community search. Police later joined.

I'm not sure if they joined due to the phone. The railroad tracks are active so it's possible they came out of concern for the safety of volunteers. I don't think Amtrak is happy about the searches

 

[Mom24]

Police said 2 searchers touched it and it is now contaminated, unfortunately.

I hope it has information about Achim. I feel like he turned it off and left it there on purpose

They also have no context for it. Searchers should always mark items so they can be photographed in situ, how it's sitting and where it is found is so important.

 

[Steelslady]

This article makes it seem as though the phone is his.

Could cellphone found near bridge belong to Achim Bailey? Father of Springfield man missing for nearly 2 weeks is hopeful


"Just before the police arrived, one of the volunteers found a cellphone in the gravel strip between the rail lines just south of the South End Bridge. The man who found it said that when he powered up the phone, a black iPhone, it immediately flashed with several text message alerts addressed to Achim Bailey. The phone was put in a plastic bag, and eventually turned over to the police. "

Now pray tell me, why would a volunteer power up that phone, or even better yet, touch it? Even if they had gloves on, you still should call LE and have them collect it, unless they tell you to do so, and with gloves on to preserve any finger prints on it that may not be Achim's. Ugh!

 

[audge86]

I can't believe it was there and working. Between police and the homeless population, it shouldn't have been there.

And since Achim went missing, Springfield has been hit with snow and lots of rain. It shouldn't be working.

I know the most likely outcome here but I am entertaining the possibility that the phone has not been there this whole time

 

[audge86]

The finder has been very active on social media. I think he's enjoying the spotlight and turned it on out of excitement over finding it. He wanted to make sure it really did belong to Achim

 

[Mom24]

The finder has been very active on social media. I think he's enjoying the spotlight and turned it on out of excitement over finding it. He wanted to make sure it really did belong to Achim

Sadly he may have dropped it there himself, or someone within the search group may have dropped it. We have no idea how it came to be there or if it is Achim's.

 

[Steelslady]

Sadly he may have dropped it there himself, or someone within the search group may have dropped it. We have no idea how it came to be there or if it is Achim's.

I was thinking the same thing. Who says it was even dropped.....

 

[aegarner1]

All I can say is, wow!