Missing
Stephen Edward Carey
Carey, approximately 2019; Black Motobécane mountain bike
Date and time person was reported missing : 07/07/2019
Missing location (approx) :
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Missing classification : Endangered Missing
Gender : Male
Ethnicity :
White
Age at the time of disappearance: 59 years old
Height / Weight : 5'8 - 5'9, 140 - 160 pounds
Description, clothing, jewerly and more : Unknown, but Carey usually wears a dark brown wide-brimmed hat and carries a Nalgene water bottle.
Distinguishing characteristics, birthmarks, tattoos
: Caucasian male. Gray hair, blue eyes.
Information on the case from local sources, may or may not be correct : Carey was last seen on July 8, 2019. He was a resident of California but was visiting Las Cruces, New Mexico at the time. On July 7 he was seen at the Dripping Springs Visitor Center, where he spoke to a volunteer about trails in the area. The next day, he checked out of his hotel. He has never been heard from again.
His wife and three children back in El Segundo, California reported him missing on July 11. Early on the morning of July 12, Carey's white 2007 Subaru Legacy with California license plates was found at the west trailhead to Baylor Canyon, at the base of the Organ Mountains. His black Motobécane mountain bike and wallet were not with the car and have not been found, and there were no bike tracks on or adjacent to the trail. A photo of a similar bike is posted with this case summary.
Carey is an avid biker and outdoorsman and often traveled back and forth between California and New Mexico. He had previously embarked on grueling hiking trips and his sister believes he was prone to taking risks. Authorities are not certain of the circumstances of Carey's disappearance; theories include that he was kidnapped, that he was hurt in the Organ Mountains, or that he simply walked out of his life.
One possibility is that he is on White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) land, which covers much of the Organ Mountains; access is prohibited to non-Army personnel. The WSMR assisted in the search for Carey and coordinated a flyover over the range, but found no evidence of Carey's whereabouts.
His case remains unsolved. Both California and New Mexico police are investigating.
Other information and links : ncy
New Mexico State Police
575-382-2500
El Segundo, California Police Department
310-524-2200
September 2021 updates and sources
A missing person is a person who has disappeared and whose status as alive or dead cannot be confirmed as their location and condition are not known. A person may go missing through a voluntary disappearance, or else due to an accident, crime, death in a location where they cannot be found (such as at sea), or many other reasons. In most parts of the world, a missing person will usually be found quickly. While criminal abductions are some of the most widely reported missing person cases, these account for only 2�5% of missing children in Europe.
By contrast, some missing person cases remain unresolved for many years. Laws related to these cases are often complex since, in many jurisdictions, relatives and third parties may not deal with a person's assets until their death is considered proven by law and a formal death certificate issued. The situation, uncertainties, and lack of closure or a funeral resulting when a person goes missing may be extremely painful with long-lasting effects on family and friends.
Several organizations seek to connect, share best practices, and disseminate information and imAge at the time of disappearance: s of missing children to improve the effectiveness of missing children investigations, including the International Commission on Missing Persons, the International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children (ICMEC), as well as national organizations, including the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in the US, Missing People in the UK, Child Focus in Belgium, and The Smile of the Child in Greece.
The Las Cruces Sun-News
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Interactive Missing Person Search Map
