A local U.S. Marine Corp veteran has been missing for more than six weeks despite an ongoing search by local authorities and entry in a national online reporting site.
Christopher Michael Golliher, 35, was reported missing from 2005 Ave. E in Fort Madison on Feb. 7, and was last seen on Feb. 3.
A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Golliher’s location.
According to the report filed by Golliher’s mother, Michelle Shelton of Keokuk, Golliher had been living in the basement in the home of some friends, Amber Sawyer and Josh Norvell, at 2005 Ave. E, since December.
On Feb. 4, Sawyer informed Fort Madison Police that Golliher was missing from the home, which was not unusual, however Sawyer stated that this time he left without taking his cellphone, wallet or jacket.
Golliher is described as 5’11, 280 lbs., with short brown hair, brown eyes, and a beard. He have tattoos and on one arm is a My Pet Monster drawing as well as having “Mayhem on a Stick” under his bicep.
“It is under unusual circumstances given he left without his phone and wallet. Usually if someone intends to leave they take their bag or phone,” says Police Chief Mark Rohloff, adding that there have been no sighting of Golliher since Feb. 3.
Shelton said after speaking to Sawyer and Norvell she reported her son’s disappearance to police.
“They (Sawyer and Norvell) said they had had an argument the night before and that he disappeared the next day,” Shelton told the Daily Democrat on Wednesday. “I honestly have no idea what happened. I know there has been no activity on his bank account and he left without his wallet. Even if he dove into the drug world, the first thing you would need is money. He’s got to eat, and if he went anywhere he would need money for a bus ticket or to pay someone for gas, but there’s been no activity on his account.”
Shelton says her son has never gone more than week without contacting her.
According to a supplement report by FMPD Capt. Dustin Fullhart, Sawyer and Norvell reported regularly interacting with Golliher and that he often played video games with their children, but that at some point Golliher stopped taking his medication because it made him tired and sleep excessively.
About a week before Golliher’s disappearance, the roommates stated Golliher stopped eating well, talked about suicide, and had bouts of crying.
On Feb. 4, Sawyer went to police after she noticed that she had not heard any movement in the basement or sounds from the television. She then went downstairs and noticed he was gone.
Golliher’s father, Chris Golliher Sr., says his son is a U.S. Marine Corp veteran, serving two tours in Afghanistan, and now suffers from Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and has drug issues.
“My thoughts are that it sounds like he went from a warm house to a warm car and didn’t come back. I mean, he left his coat and it was early February,” said Golliher Sr.
Rohloff said after receiving Shelton’s report on Feb. 7, Golliher Jr. was then entered in the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) as a missing person. The data collection site is reserved for those who are missing and have some type of physical or mental disability.
Rohloff says the “must be missing for 24 hours” to file a missing a person’s report no longer exists, despite its repeated reference in television shows.
“There is no written rule that we wait 24 hours. It depends on the circumstances. Recently, we had a man reported missing by his spouse and then found by another agency in Indiana. He didn’t want be found… but no, we take the report and act immediately,” Rohloff said.