How to find a "missing??" person

[Alyssa]

You guys can e-mail me off-list for more details, but I have someone who was helping me around the house, and just disappeared. One would normally assume the normal "take the money and run" routine... (except he wasn't paid up front...) however, he's left all his very valuable tools and equipment at my house, stuff I know he would never leave behind. He was a dream worker, always called, was talented, knew what he was doing, wasn't a moron, wasn't lazy, was freakishly cheap, showed up every day, always returned calls, etc... He was supposed to show up the next day, and never did. (He was at my house nearly every day after he finished his day job). It's been 3 weeks since I've heard from him. He was getting my house fixed up so I could sell it & was in the middle of a big job. He lives in the ghetto (his description, not mine), and has a lot of bad seeds for family, lots of them in jail. His uncle died, and the family came together for the funeral, and I'm afraid maybe something happened with the family being around. He didn't have the most savory childhood, and was in jail once, or I would never have thought of it with him. I've left many messages for him on his cell phone, which is still functioning & accepting messages. These tools are his livelihood-- something has to have happened for him not to have come to get them. (I mean, this is nearly every tool he owns... circular saws, miter saws, nail guns, routers, drills, hand tools, everything). He wasn't just working at my house, he was a handyman for lots of other people, too, and without the tools, he can't be working. I checked the obituaries, and his name doesn't appear anywhere. He doesn't appear to be in a state or federal jail. He didn't have a land line phone, and I know he rented his home. (no directory assistance hits) I have his license plate #, his cell phone #, a photo, his age (but not b-day). I'm really concerned about him & want to know what is going on. The only things I can think of are that he was in some kind of accident and is in a hospital somewhere, or he is in jail. He lives in Philadelphia, but works in the entire PA/NY/NJ/DE area. I can't call his day job, because that's how I met him, and he WOULD get fired for doing side work. I've been trying for a couple days to get through to his HR department to anonymously "verify employment" but they never seem to be there to speak to me. Anyone have any other ideas?

 

[kennith]

Check PM box.

Cheers,

Kennith

 

[Alyssa]

He was driving a fairly unsafe car (with at least one tire I know was unsafe), very long distances. If he got in an accident, I just don't know how I would find out. The problem with looking into hospitals is that there are so many of them, since this is such a big area, and since he covered the ENTIRE states of NY/PA/DE/NJ in his job, god knows where he might be. Wouldn't HIPPA prevent someone from telling me anyway?
I've been looking in obituaries for the whole country, but he hasn't turned up. Is there another resource for checking for deaths where someone didn't create an obituary? Or is one always created?
I tried calling local jails, but they were of no help. When I asked if I could find out if someone WAS in prison, they asked me for his inmate #. Obviously I'm not going to have an inmate # if I don't even know if he's there!

 

[antichrist]

I can't call his day job, because that's how I met him, and he WOULD get fired for doing side work. I've been trying for a couple days to get through to his HR department to anonymously "verify employment" but they never seem to be there to speak to me. Anyone have any other ideas?

Don't say he was working for you. Present yourslf as an old friend, distant relative or what not. Don't ask for his address, just ask to leave a message for him. "I know you can't give out his address to someone you don't know, but would you please give him my message as I'm only in the area for a short while and we haven't seen each other in person since we were kids. He isn't answering his phone and I'm worried about him."
Also, some states will give you a person's address if you have the tag number. I think most have stopped doing this though.
There's always then online people search, background things for $35 or something. I've no idea how accurate they are.
If you know the other people he did work for, compare notes, you might have a bigger picture.
Good luck.

 

[D Chapman]

This sounds like a case for Dog, The Bounty Hunter.

Alyssa,
PM me his tag number and state. Not sure what information that will get you, but it will at least let you know if he was Wanted by police and in what jurisdiction.

 

[ptschram]

Er, call the police and tell him what you know?

In spite of my contempt for MOST LEOs, I don't hesitate to call for help when I need it,

PT

 

[sisukid1975]

...The problem with looking into hospitals is that there are so many of them, since this is such a big area, and since he covered the ENTIRE states of NY/PA/DE/NJ in his job, god knows where he might be. Wouldn't HIPPA prevent someone from telling me anyway? ...

Yeah, HIPAA would prevent it. I wouldn't waste time with hospitals, the standard reply will [or at least should] be "I cannot confirm nor deny that person is here. I can take a message and if they are here, I will pass it to them."

Mistakes happen though, and if you were to call up a hospital and trick someone into saying something, it would not be the first time.

HIPAA is strict on the matter. Some state laws are even stricter. I once had to correct a nurse for answering the phone "Psychiatric ward, this is so-and-so." Under existing state law at the time, she wasn't even allowed to say it was a psychiatric ward that was being called!

I wish you luck in your search.

 

[bri]

Yeah, HIPAA would prevent it. I wouldn't waste time with hospitals, the standard reply will [or at least should] be "I cannot confirm nor deny that person is here. I can take a message and if they are here, I will pass it to them."

Mistakes happen though, and if you were to call up a hospital and trick someone into saying something, it would not be the first time.

HIPAA is strict on the matter. Some state laws are even stricter. I once had to correct a nurse for answering the phone "Psychiatric ward, this is so-and-so." Under existing state law at the time, she wasn't even allowed to say it was a psychiatric ward that was being called!

I wish you luck in your search.

What? Never had that happen in any state. Call the Hospital and ask for the room of Joe Schmoe. Theonly time you will have a problem is if the person is tagged confidential (celebreity, crime, domestic violence, etc).

 

[rmuller]

What? Never had that happen in any state. Call the Hospital and ask for the room of Joe Schmoe. Theonly time you will have a problem is if the person is tagged confidential (celebreity, crime, domestic violence, etc).

The HIPAA privacy laws were enacted on April 14, 2003 ... the basic premise of it is strict confidentiality on all patient records.. I'm a programmer in the health care industry, and basically everything that I write has to take in consideration the fact that only authorized people are able to tie together a patient name with what prescriptions/disease/conditions they have.

 

[bri]

Yeah. Doesn't matter. Just call the hospital and ask for a patient. Never had them not put me through. Done it in CO, AL and CA at least a few dozen times.

We're not talking about conditions here we're discussing getting hold of a person in a hospital.

Call ask for them, if they are there, you'll get through.

If you call and ask IF they are there, you may or may not get a different answer, but I doubt it.

 

[rmuller]

Yeah, I'm sure there are some exceptions to it.. like when my step-sister had a baby, they had no problem connecting me directly to her room just off of her name.. but perhaps if they deem a patient as confidential (perhaps drug overdose, HIV, etc..), it'd be more difficult to get through.

 

[bri]

Like I said it only matters if they are mark confidential, otherwise you'll get through just by asking for them by name. Confidential is typically by request, domestic violence or other crime related.

Last time I call, asked for Joe Schmoe... operator says no Joe, but i got a Doe Schmoe. I said oh yeah forgot, he goes by his middle name, connect me-- done.

I'd say the exception is to not get through if asked by name. Imagine all of the pissed off people that would NEVER get to talk to a patient, nurse or doc if they could not ask for a room by the persons name... seriously, I have never commited a hospital room number to memory. I always call and ask for a patient. ICU is an exception, there you get the charge nurse and do not get the room unless there is a visitor or its visiting hours.

 

[Rover Puppy]

Alyssa,

Like you, I would very be concerned.

The work he was doing at your home, the tools that he left there, and the devotion it sounds like he had to your project are a bit troubling (to me). Something's just not right with that picture.

Did you notice anything awry at your home?

You don't have anyone in your life who might resent the devotion he had to you or your project, do you?

Like PT, I definitely recommend contacting LE. That's a wise move just so that they know you're looking for him. You should have someone watching over you in your search. We don't want you to disappear too.

With the protection of a trusted partner or companion, I would visit his regular place of work and probably "the ghetto", wherever that is? However, I have people in my realm who would be really good at those kind of things. Please don't go doing something like that unless you have someone who is good at those kind of things to go with you.

I pray everything works out ok.

Please keep us posted.

Best Regards Jamie, Blue, and Angel

 

[Rocky]

His initials weren't KVT were they?:smilelol:

 

[bri]

I'd be a bit concerned that I had his tools and that he may need them. Call me paranoid.

But I hope it all gets good.

 

[sisukid1975]

What? Never had that happen in any state. Call the Hospital and ask for the room of Joe Schmoe. Theonly time you will have a problem is if the person is tagged confidential (celebreity, crime, domestic violence, etc).

Where I work, being listed in the hospital directory is completely opt-in. (Not opt-out)

You are asked to sign a release. For psychiatric patients, the release goes specifically by name. (i.e.: If so-and-so isn't on this list, you can't tell them anything. Wisconsin privacy laws for 51.45 or 51.15 are very strict)

So, either Joe Schmoe signed a release saying it was OK to connect calls to his room, or we run a tighter ship. (Which is entirely likely. Our HIPAA/Privacy officer is superb. Our last Audit by the state yielded not a single infraction)

 

[Rover Puppy]

Alyssa,

I've been wondering what happened with your "missing" worker.

Were you able to locate him?

When you have time, please post and let us know.

 

[Alyssa]

He's still AWOL. No clue yet.

 

[ptschram]

Have the authorities been alerted yet?

 

[Alyssa]

No, I haven't talked to the police, but I don't plan on it, either, for various reasons, and those of you who have PMd me on this issue understand.
I have found 4 previous/current addresses for him (all in a 4 block area), which I am planning on visiting, but have put off because I am honestly just too scared to go there. The average home price is $40k! That is the ghetto-est of the ghetto in Philly. White woman + new Range Rover + alone + recent increase in random shootings :sniper: = not good. So if any fearless, somewhat imposing Dweb member with a not brand new RR would like to accompany me, please let me know.