The father of a missing man put out a tearful plea for his son to come home, or at least contact his family to say he was all right.
Facing television cameras at a news conference at the York Regional Police #4 district office, Bob Abrams told his son, Simi, who has been missing since March 21, that he should come back to his family, no questions asked.
“When you are ready, please call,” his father pleaded. “I just want to know you are safe…Please know you are not in trouble. We just want to get you back safe.”
He declined to add to his brief statement, saying only, “I couldn’t believe it” when asked for his reaction when he heard his son had gone missing.
Simi Abrams, 24, has been the subject of a police search since he was last seen on March 21.
York Regional Police Det. Sgt. Kevin McCloskey outlined the extent of the police investigation and asked for community help to try to locate the missing person.
Echoing Bob Abrams’ plea, McCloskey said Simi would not be in trouble with police if he came forward, saying they only want to know he’s all right.
“I’m concerned for his personal well-being,” McCloskey added.
Police, in conjunction with the volunteer organization OVERT – the Ontario Voluntary Emergency Response Team – and Hatzoloh Toronto, a Jewish organization that complements Toronto’s ambulance service, had searched a 10-kilometre area in the vicinity where Abrams was last seen. As many as 55-60 police and community volunteers, along with a helicopter and an airplane took part in the search over a five-day period.
Outlying the events that led to Abrams’ disappearance, McCloskey said the young man was seen on March 21 at 12:30 p.m. when he left Mackenzie Health Hospital at 10 Trench Street in Richmond Hill. Later, he was known to have been walking on Taunton Road, near Bathurst Street, heading west.
Earlier, Abrams had visited a nearby Walmart where he had purchased various items that included lighter fluid and barbecue implements, items that could be used to make an outdoor stay more comfortable, McCloskey suggested.
Police searchers had found Abrams’ wallet and phone in a wooded area near Lady Dolores Avenue and Lady Nadia Drive, a few hours after he had gone missing. Other than that, there were no leads as to his whereabouts, he said.
McCloskey called on people in the area to check sheds and other outdoor structures to see if Abrams was taking shelter there. He suggested that he might have found refuge in a coffee shop.
The area where Abrams’ wallet and phone were found is a suburban subdivision with large new homes. Nearby, however, west on Taunton, the landscape changes into open areas including farms and woodlands with scrub brush.
To the northwest of his last known location is the Pardes Shalom cemetery, north of which is the Maple Downs Golf and Country Club.
READ: YORK REGIONAL POLICE LOOKING FOR MISSING JEWISH MAN
McCloskey did not give any reason why Abrams had gone missing. Police had contacted Abrams’ friends but had no leads as to his possible whereabouts, he said.
York Regional Police’s website includes two recent photos of Abrams, one of which was captured from a video showing him leaving Mackenzie Health Hospital. Abrams is described as five-foot-four, 140-pounds, with long curly dark hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a white toque with a blue stripe, dark winter coat and jeans.
Anyone with information as to Abrams’ whereabouts is asked to contact the York Regional Police #4 District Criminal Investigations Bureau at 1-866-876-5423, ext. 7441 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-tips or leave an anonymous tip online at www.1800222tips.com.
