Another Georgia Family Searches for Missing Iraq Veteran Son
[UPDATE December 1, 2007]: The female Oregon soldier, Sgt. Julie Stendahl, mentioned below has turned herself in to military authorities; she was, in fact, planning to stage her own disappearance. Additionally, another soldier, Raymond Roussel of Augusta, Maine has gone missing as well since this post was published. Details in extended.
It's Thanksgiving weekend, and at least one military family marks another year since their recently-returning Iraq veteran loved one has gone missing without a trace. Jason Roark, who I wrote about last year, is still missing following his November 9, 2006, disappearance.
Meanwhile, in Georgia again, another veteran, Gary Chronister, has gone missing. And in Oregon, a female soldier who was to deploy to Iraq at the end of October has gone missing, although one local newsroom has apparently gotten a reply to an inquiry they made to her MySpace page believe to have been made by her.
Please take a moment to pass along the details I've added in extended (compiled from press accounts as linked) to others in online and offline communities you frequent; perhaps something can be turned up to help these families during a time of what must be much anxiety.
In educational interest, article(s) quoted from extensively.
From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Macon Telegraph:
Georgia - Gary Leighton Chronister, 33
Missing since: Saturday, November 10, 2007, at 5 a.m.
Last known whereabouts: Chronister's mother believes Gary left the apartment they share on Lake Tobesofkee and headed straight up I-75 to Cobb County. On Monday night, her son's 10-year-old green Ford Ranger was found at a QuikTrip gas station on Cobb Parkway in Acworth.
Description and details: [photo] He is white, 6 feet 1 inch tall and about 250 pounds, according to a sheriff's office description. He may be driving a 1997 teal green Ford Ranger with a bronze section along the bottom and a Lake Wildwood sticker on a cracked front windshield. The Bibb County license plate number is AEW8427.
Chronister served in Afghanistan and Iraq, returning from Iraq in September 2003. Shortly after, his mental health began deteriorating. Before Iraq he was "a happy-go-lucky, fun guy. He was very engaged with his nieces and nephews," she said. After Iraq, he withdrew more and more. Lately he has been obsessed with "cleansing the toxins from his body. He felt the toxins caused his mental illness," Futrell said.
Contact: If spotted, contact police or the Bibb County Sheriff's Office at 478-746-9441. If found in the metro Atlanta area, he should be taken to the emergency room of the Atlanta VA Medical Center, 1670 Clairmont Rd., in Decatur.
From FOX News and the Walton Tribune:
Georgia - Jason Roark, 26
Missing since: Thursday, November 9, 2006
Last known whereabouts: Captured on surveillance video at a Gwinnett County motel.
Description and details: [photo] The Special Forces soldier served two tours of duty in Iraq before he went missing. Roark was an assistant manager at Snellville's Texas Roadhouse and had phoned his mother the day before his disappearance to tell her about an upcoming promotion he was excited about.
Contact: A trust fund has been set up to help locate Jason and to pay a reward for anyone who has information that helps locate him. Contributions to the reward fund can be made by contacting Westside Bank at 770-445-1855 ext. 301. Anyone wishing to find out more about the case or to pass on any information can go to info(at)TexasEquuSearch.org or by phoning 1-877-270-9500, Gwinnett County Police at 770-513-5347 case number 06-11-8592 or private investigator Bob Poulnot at 770-995-1275.
From WCSH - NBC Channel 6:
Maine - Raymond Roussel, 27
Missing since: Monday, November 26, 2007
Last known whereabouts: Seen driving away from his Augusta home.
Description and details: [photo]
Roussel served in Iraq and lived next door to his parents in Augusta.
Contact: If spotted, contact the Augusta police department at 626-2370
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