Found Deceased PA - Thomas Hughes, 25, Pittsburgh/Beechview, 23 Jan 2021

[steeltowngirl]

One place police do know is where some of the semi-abandoned houses are in areas of the Northside, South Hills, McKees Rocks. Hope they check them out.

 

[MyJoey]

Today is a month. Could he have walked there from where the van was found? I’m not from that area.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Today is a month. Could he have walked there from where the van was found? I’m not from that area.

Depending which area, a person could walk to one of the neighborhoods I posted above in 1 - 2.5 hours. For example, Carrick would be about an hour’s walk. There are also jitneys (cash) and of course, Uber and Lyft - but police should have seen that online. Although - a person can order an Uber for another person who doesn’t have the app.

However, I don’t think it’s confirmed that Tom was driving the van when it arrived at S 18th St. If he was not, that opens the possibility that he stayed or was left elsewhere, and someone else took the van to Southside.

 

[MyJoey]

I hope they checked cameras for any vehicles following the van. If someone dropped it off, I’m sure they would have needed a ride. I guess the person dropping could have called a Uber. Although, I do believe He’s the one that left it there. I just have a gut feeling sadly, that he relapsed and things went south. Depending on his drug of choice will tell how south things went. Having some experience with how addiction works if there’s any money in his accounts he would be tapping into them if he could. I say that with a heavy heart and prayers he’s found safe.

 

[steeltowngirl]

A month is a long time, but I’m holding onto hope. Tom could have wanted a break and walked away, been picked up, even taken a Greyhound or Megabus elsewhere.

If he was experiencing a crisis, it is possible he may have checked himself into Western Psych, or an out-of-town facility. I assume police have checked that angle. However, since he’s an adult, I really don’t know that any information would be provided to them, due to medical privacy law.

 

[MyJoey]

Most 25 year olds don't recognize a mental crisis. I just don’t see him walking away, without contacting someone. I think he planned to meet up with someone that night, before ever getting to his sisters house. Regan said he had about $300 on him that’s a lot of money for someone to carry to just visit family.
Steeltowngirl
( I was doing a little research) I was reading a really good article last night.....google Gene & Sandy Ralston bringing up the bodies. Well worth the read, amazing couple that has help many families find missing loved ones.

 

[Missinginpittsburgh]

As much as I dont want to think it, I too believe that Tommy picked someone up, relapsed and possibly overdosed. whoever was with him panicked and did something to get rid of him. Possibly a dealer? I think after that, they drove his van to the s side and left it and the keys, they didnt want the vehicle. But leads to the question, sid they fingerprint the van? This is all speculation and imo. I hope I'm wrong and he is safe

 

[Missinginpittsburgh]

Just on news. Rescuers on ohio river. No reason why yet

 

[steeltowngirl]

No update on WPXI ten o clock news about river rescue.

Fingers crossed that the river rescue was just being vigilant today, and that the earlier report was perhaps just a false alarm.

There was a call Sunday AM to them with a report of a body in the river by the West End Bridge. It turned out to be a 55 gallon drum.

 

[MyJoey]

Thank you Steeltowngirl for keeping us updated. With his belongings still being in the van, we can assume he didn’t leave to start over. The info about him sweating makes me think he had already starting using something before leaving his sisters house. On the flip side it could be he was withdrawing and on the phone searching......

 

[mlhenn]

Search continues for 25-year-old Thomas Hughes

Feb 24
To Note:
•Thomas and his girlfriend, Regan Ruff, traveled from Ridgway to Pittsburgh Jan. 23 to visit his parents.
•That night, he went to the upstairs bathroom and locked himself inside.
•”His dad had gone up multiple times to check on him,” Ruff said. “I myself went up multiple times and he just kept saying that nothing was wrong.”
•the next he knew, Thomas was running down the stairs, saying “could you just trust me this one time?” before getting into his minivan and leaving.
•Surveillance video captured Thomas at a gas station, then driving the minivan through the city. •He was last seen heading toward the Monongahela River.
•The final video was captured at 3:38 a.m.
•His vehicle was eventually found by his parents on 18th street near Riverfront Park in Pittsburgh.
•His keys were still in the ignition and his belongings were still in the minivan.

***This is from the article posted earlier; I just went directly to the news site to read & link it..however I noticed some details have been omitted from the original version.

 

[llmas11]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

Can you let me know where you got this information? I am not seeing anything on the news....I am Tommy’s aunt.

 

[Ms. Fletcher]

<modsnip deleted quote>

Is this the one you are referring to, who was identified as a 31 year old fisherman from Wheeling?
Body Found In Ohio River Identified | WTRF

Prayers for Thomas' family. These reports have to be so difficult

 

[ludakristen]

Search continues for 25-year-old Thomas Hughes

Feb 24
To Note:
•Thomas and his girlfriend, Regan Ruff, traveled from Ridgway to Pittsburgh Jan. 23 to visit his parents.
•That night, he went to the upstairs bathroom and locked himself inside.
•”His dad had gone up multiple times to check on him,” Ruff said. “I myself went up multiple times and he just kept saying that nothing was wrong.”
•the next he knew, Thomas was running down the stairs, saying “could you just trust me this one time?” before getting into his minivan and leaving.
•Surveillance video captured Thomas at a gas station, then driving the minivan through the city. •He was last seen heading toward the Monongahela River.
•The final video was captured at 3:38 a.m.
•His vehicle was eventually found by his parents on 18th street near Riverfront Park in Pittsburgh.
•His keys were still in the ignition and his belongings were still in the minivan.

***This is from the article posted earlier; I just went directly to the news site to read & link it..however I noticed some details have been omitted from the original version.

His girlfriend posted in this thread that the "could you just trust me this one time?" thing was said OVER THE PHONE. So I wonder when/why/how Tommy and his dad were talking on the phone - was this after he left the house in the minivan, and his dad followed?

 

[Lorenathered]

I work in St. Marys also and this is the first I have heard of this. Hoping against hope that he is found safe and to let Regan know that if there is anything we can do to help locally, just PM me.

 

[Sillybilly]

<modsnip: Quoted post was removed>

Can you let me know where you got this information? I am not seeing anything on the news....I am Tommy’s aunt.

llmas11, it is not Tommy. The body recovered has been identified as 31 y.o. Brandon C. Snyder of Wheeling.

 

[Missinginpittsburgh]

Body Found In Ohio River Identified | WTRF

 

[steeltowngirl]

Body Found In Ohio River Identified | WTRF

Different story. That was on Monday in Wheeling. The River Rescue report was very brief yesterday afternoon and near Neville Island. That was the concern being raised. Nothing more has been said on the news. Personally, I am going to conclude that yesterday was unrelated to any missing person and a false alarm.

 

[llmas11]

<modsnip deleted quote>
Can you let me know where you got this information? I am not seeing anything on the news....I am Tommy aunt.

Body Found In Ohio River Identified | WTRF

that was last week

 

[llmas11]

llmas11, it is not Tommy. The body recovered has been identified as 31 y.o. Brandon C. Snyder of Wheeling.

Thanks, I knew about that last week. They just released his name. I appreciate you posting that to help clear it up