Anyone been in a situation like this? Missing person

[imuseless]

My son (early 20s, ASD) has been missing since May 1st in a different Country. UK police are involved and they got the police in the other Country involved and also interpol. Police there have been checking hospitals, police stations, homeless shelters, john does.. Police here in the UK have been checking ferries, flights etc, trying to see if he has re entered the UK or gone on to another Country etc.

His phone has been off since May 2nd, Zero posts on social media, no reply to any messages, voice mails or anything else, He didn't contact me to wish me a happy birthday a few weeks ago which is when I knew for sure something was wrong, Not even sure if his phone is off, dead, stolen or if he's taken his sim card out. Nobody in our family and none of his friends have seen or heard from him in any way what so ever. Because of the ASD he is the type of person that messages me constantly throughout the day (and tells me absolutely everything if I want to know or not!), All day every day 'Mum I'm awake now, I'm going to do such a thing now' etc so I know something bad has happened. There is no way he would ever go this long without contacting someone, He wouldn't even go one hour.

I'm preparing to fly out, I'm not sure if that is even a good idea or if I should stay here in case he makes it home. Not even sure where in the other Country he is, would only be guessing on my part. We have no connection to the other Country at all, No family there, no friends, never been before etc.

Nobody even knew he had left, nobody knew he was going in the first place. First I knew he had left the Country was the one post he made saying he had arrived with a selfie then nothing at all since.

He is ASD and would be classed as very vunerable and very easily led, If you were to tell him there is a tunnel at the end of your garden that takes you to Spain he would believe you and ask if he could go to Spain with you.. All the things that would be obvious to me like going into a police station, a hospital, a library, try to find an internet cafe to ask for help etc he wouldn't think to do..

Not slept for days, not eaten for days, can't think straight, my mind keeps wandering to all sorts of bad things, I can't think of a single good reason he wouldn't have been in contact in some way by now, I feel absolutely useless, unsettled and have a constant horrible feeling in my stomach that won't go away, I'm literally waiting for my phone to ring with some news, good or bad. I have no idea what to do. Anyone else have experience with a missing person? Did it turn out ok?

Not sure if I'm looking for advice or if I just need to get this all down out of my head.

Has he been chatting to someone online maybe? Is there any way you can check that?

Has he flown and been abroad before? He obviously got there ok. Would he be able to make his way around and book a hotel etc?

Did the photo absolutely verify that he was actually in Poland?

I am thinking that he may have been suckered in by a scammer through social media if he is vulnerable - lured to Poland. They could have talked him through the process of booking flights, etc.

Has he left his laptop at home? Maybe some clues on there....

Good point. It’s possible that his phone may have been stolen and an old photo used.

Also do you know his passwords for account? Could you check his banking app etc,

I assume the police know for definite that he arrived in Poland? And it wasn’t a mocked up photo?
Does he know anyone in this country who is from Poland who he might have travelled with?

I'm so so sorry OP, you must be absolutely worried sick. I can't even imagine what you are going through. Can you do a Facebook post so people can share it? A lot of people you know will have acquaintances who are Polish. Some could be back there for a holiday right now. Others will have family there. And these posts always spread very fast. Hoping for your son's safe return 🙏

Does he have an iphone?
Is there any way you cld access his laptop or his google account for his timeline?
Any electronic trace at all from a laptop or fone acc might help pinpoint him?
Wld he have had his location settings on?

Omg I hope you find him soon!! I think it's probably useful to have someone in Poland (preferably a native speaker) who can ensure the police are doing everything they can

Sounds like some sort of MH crisis, had you seen him recently prior to going missing, how was he? Any signs of upset?
You seem to describe him as very vulnerable, so how was he managing wuth living on his own?
Poland being next to Ukraine is the worry, vulnerable people can be recruited into alsorts.Has he been picked up by any CCTV cameras at pots or airports- the police should know by now how he left the country and if he was alone.

so sorry to hear about this OP, I can't imagine how worried you are. What electronics do you think he might have? It might be worth looking on the Apple finder or the android version.

Have the police/border control confirmed he definitely left the country?

I'm so sorry, this must be awful.

Is there any way you can access his emails/social media accounts to search for clues? If he has a laptop at home, they might be logged in.

Do you have find my phone? Could that be accessed?

Do you have any authority over him such as LPA that could allow you to access more information such as his bank account to see if he's used his accounts.

Have the police found any other devices at home that might hold information? Presumably they've been able to find out where he flew from and when so the airline might have more information as to who actually booked the flight and when etc. It does sound very much like he may have gone with someone or gone to meet someone on a whim, although leaving lights on and windows open is very strange. I hope you find out some information soon. I just couldn't even imagine what I'd be doing or where to start looking.

He doesn't have a laptop or a pc or a tablet etc, he has a samsung phone and nothing else, I don't have any of his passwords for his social media or his bank information apart from which bank he is with. Its not an old pic he posted as he recently changed his hair style and it was taken in Poland at the old market square. We are not friends on facebook (his choice) but we talk on messenger and hes not been online at all. I have aksed his friends on facebook if he has posted any posts for 'friends only' and they are all saying no posts at all since may 2nd.

The police could I assume ask the bank for information as to which company he used to fly/travel to Poland, and thus they could narrow down potential time of arrival to view CCTV etc?
The police could also I assume access phone records to see who he was contacting by phone. However won't show data use (messages what'sapp etc)

I hope you find him soon.

Have the police located his phone or can they see last place it pinged?

How awful for you. When are you going?

Can you ask the police here to access his bank account and see if there have been any recent transactions?

I'm so sorry op.
Practically have the police confirmed where his phone last pinged?
Has there been any activity on his banks cards?

That's so worrying for you.

He clearly isn't thinking rationally to have even gone - given that he left his house in an unsafe way and his pets alone without care.

The police should be able to check his bank accounts which will lead to where he last was. And boarder control will be able to find out if/when he travelled to Poland. It seems odd for him to have gone to Poland without a connection, or mentioning he wanted to go? Especially if you spoke regularly. Might he have mentioned to someone else?

This sounds so worrying, you poor thing. I think you might be best placed pressing the UK police as they can liaise officially with the police in Poland. Keep up contact with the consulate too.

Then perhaps try asking some of his friends to spread the word on social media and via another networks. It sounds as though someone has probably encouraged him to travel, but perhaps you can find out whether he has been making new online friends who might be involved.

@imuseless

My son went missing g for months several years ago. This was in Asia.

The police here reported him internationally as a missing person and tracked his bank account. They also took his old toothbrush from here for dna testing.

Have you got the police here involved?

This is awful and I am so sorry for you.

It does seem odd the way he left with no notice and without telling anyone.

I hope you get some news soon.

do you know whereabouts in Poland? Knowing the city might be a help in getting started.