Woman reports seeing missing man in California
Toolbox
Staff Report
The Associated Press
The Associated Press - Published: April 30, 2006
RUTLAND — An anonymous woman has reported seeing a missing Rutland man in California.
The parents of William "Mike" Hogan, 29, traveled to Ventura, Calif., to look for their son after a woman reported talking with him in a downtown park.
Hogan, who has obsessive compulsion disorder, was last seen about a year ago near the Spring Lake Ranch in Shrewsbury where he was treated and had a job.
"We got a call this past weekend that Michael was in Ventura, California," said Hogan's father, Michael Hogan.
Hogan's parents, who are now divorced, traveled to southern California from Bel Air, Md., where they live, and met woman.
"She said he identified himself as Mike Hogan, told her he was a missing person, and he said he didn't remember where he lived and where he was from," Hogan's father said. "He said that he couldn't remember his phone number, but he wanted to call his mother and tell her he was OK."
The woman told the Hogans a friend looked online, found the Hogan's Web site www.helpfindmikehogan.org. and called a missing persons hot line.
"We're absolutely convinced she talked to Michael," Hogan said.
Vermont State Police Lt. David Covell said state police have been communicating with authorities in Ventura, which has a population of 105,000.
"They have been very cooperative in working the case and attempting to locate Mr. Hogan," Covell said Friday. "There is some information that is encouraging, but were still waiting on the authorities out in Ventura to continue with their assistance ... to determine if this is him or not."
Before the latest possible tip, police had not had any reported sightings for "quite some time," he said.
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