The Calera Police Department is a month into its search for Reuben Waithaka.
“It will get more and more difficult,” Police Chief David Hyche said. “We have three detectives, and we’ve really put a lot of miles on their cars by following up on this, but in this particular situation, it’s very sad.”
Loved ones have not seen the 72-year-old since May 15.
The Kenyan native flew into Alabama to attend his grandson’s high school graduation.
“We just had Father’s Day this past weekend. I spoke with his son and his son’s mother. They sat here yesterday in my office, and it was a tough time for them,” Hyche said.
Chief Hyche says they aren’t getting as many tips as before, but that many of them sound the same, with people calling to say they spotted Waithaka at a gas station.
The most recent one came in Monday night, about a sighting in Sylacauga.
“They’re working on that lead now. But, you know, I don’t want to give people a false sense of hope,” Hyche said.
Hyche says they’re consistently calling homeless shelters and Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices, looking for him.
“We check with them routinely to see if maybe he is stopped by police somewhere and picked up, and he doesn’t have his passport with him, so he can’t prove that he’s in this country legally,” Hyche said.
“Typically, Crime Stoppers does not post information on missing persons, but the situation with Mr. Waithaka being from outside the country, and in his state of health and being missing for so long — I really want to express my appreciation to Crime Stoppers,” Hyche said.
The Alabama Crime Stoppers director tells WVTM 13 if someone saw something at the time but didn’t think it was important to call them, call still, and they will relay the information to the Calera Police Department.
