Antioch resident Thomas Howe remains missing one week after his disappearance following a crash on I-94 near Libertyville. Another search party today turned up no results.
Thomas “Tommy” Howe, 24, of Antioch, was reported missing last weekend to the Antioch Police Department.
The Vernon Hills Police Department said that Howe went to an appointment on the morning of January 22 in Vernon Hills.
He was involved in a crash on Interstate 94 at mile marker 16.75 near Libertyville, police said.
Immediately following the crash, Howe left the scene on foot in an unknown direction.
The man’s mother, MaryMargaret Howe, said the crash was severe enough to total his car.
“All airbags had been deployed yet he was able to get out of the car. He may have a concussion and be so confused that he may not know who he is,” MaryMargaret Howe said.
“While in this massive search effort please be aware that he is harmless. He is a rule follower, hard working, loving kid that would do absolutely anything for anyone,” she added.
Howe was last seen wearing a gray North Face jacket, dark pants, and black and white laced Vans, according to a missing person flyer.
Howe is described as a male white, 5-foot-8, with brown eyes and brown hair.
Howe left his personal cell phone in his car following the crash, police said.
On Monday, search teams located Howe’s work cell phone in the Old School Forest Preserve in unincorporated Libertyville.
Police said they have received many sighting reports of the man but none of them have been confirmed.
Antioch Communications Specialist Jim Moran said investigators led a collaborative search of the Old School Forest Preserve Thursday morning.
The Antioch Police Department, which is leading the search, was joined by the Illinois State Police, Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake County Forest Preserve Police.
Thursday’s search was focused on areas identified as having a “higher likelihood of providing information about Howe’s activities within the forest preserve following the crash,” Moran said.
Prior to the Thursday search, Antioch Police Chief Geoffrey Guttschow met with Howe’s family and volunteers.
“We want Tommy’s family and friends to know that we’re committed to being there with them every step of this process,” Guttschow said.
“Our investigators continue to follow up on every lead that has been called into our dispatch center. Our search today included help from numerous agencies, the use of a drone, and a Lake County Sheriff K-9 unit,” the police chief said on Thursday.
Multiple searches have taken place since Howe’s disappearance.
“Tommy’s family and friends, along with the help of the Antioch Police Department, have spent the past week searching the surrounding area and were able to recover his work phone in a nearby forest preserve,” the man’s sister, Katie Howe, said Friday evening.
“However, there have been no additional findings since then. APD is continuously exploring new avenues, theories, and tips to ensure there is no stone left unturned,” Katie Howe said.
Saturday morning, one week after Howe went missing, family and friends held another search party but it did not turn up any results.
Anyone who thinks they may have seen Howe is asked to call the CenCom Dispatch Center at 847-270-9111.