and family of Ashland resident Timothy Whitcomb have been frantically calling for the 24-year-old’s return since he went missing three weeks ago.
Whitcomb was last seen Sept. 25, 2012 walking on Sixth Avenue wearing only a pair of jeans.
"We don't know what this is," Tim's mother-in-law Paula Smith said. "It's out of character for him to go this long without contacting anyone."
Bellville police, who are handling the case, said they are still looking into whether Whitcomb ran away or if foul play was a factor.
Lt. Jon Fletcher said there was "no indication of foul play at this time."
Smith said she's not so sure.
"This has got out everywhere, so if Tim knew we were looking for him he would contact us," Smith said. "He would never try to cause this distress to everyone; that's why we're worried."
The family has posted missing person flyers with Whitcomb's picture and physical description across social media sites.
They describe him as a 6-foot-2, 180 pound Caucasian male with blue-green eyes and short, brown hair.
Police suspect drugs and alcohol may have played a role in his disappearance, the report said.
When Whitcomb's mother, Cynthia Simmons, reported him missing Oct. 8, she told police that he has been into drugs for "quite some time" and that he had been through rehab.
She also told police that "when times got tough, he would threaten suicide," according to the police report.
Smith said she knew Whitcomb to be sober at least a month before his disappearance.
Whitcomb’s mother also told police he had been staying with a friend, Heather King, for two weeks before he went missing.
King told police that Whitcomb just "up and left" around 8:30 p.m. Sept. 25, and didn't say where he was going. She said he did not take his cell phone or ID with him.
Fletcher said the department has been following up on several leads, but has not turned up any information yet.
The latest lead indicated Whitcomb went to West Virginia, he said. The lead came from an unidentified source who told an area gas station clerk that Whitcomb went with a girl to the state; the girl returned but he did not.
Information on Whitcomb's whereabouts may be provided to the local police department or to 419-706-4748.
SOURCE:
http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/article/20121018/NEWS01/121018003
