Missing Coast Guardsman Russell Matthews’ Mysterious Return After 4-Months Missing

Petty Officer First Class Russell Matthews, a 17-year-veteran of the Coast Guard (rescue swimmer), disappeared nearly four-months ago. Matthews’ car was found by police at a Kaena Point parking lot in a remote area of the Hawaiian island of Oahu, after he was reported missing back on Oct. 9, 2012. An all-out search for the missing 36-year-old man was launched by both the Coast Guard and the fire department, with searchers scouring the north and south shores of the point in search of him. The three-day search went cold, however, as did the investigation into his whereabouts. At the time of his disappearance, Matthews was under investigation for using marijuana.

Mysteriously, Matthews (a father of two) showed up at his wife’s Oahu house, but nobody was home. Today, Honolulu police said that Matthews appeared incoherent, and he was taken to a hospital for observation. Coast Guard investigators confirmed his identity after he called his command from Castle Medical Center in the Honolulu suburb of Kailua. Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Gene Maestas commented on the case, saying that Matthews has not indicated where he had been for the past four months, or why he ceased to be in contact with family, friends or the Coast Guard. Police have closed the case, as it is not illegal to be a missing person. He is currently being evaluated at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. Military investigators are scheduled to talk to Matthews when he gets out of the hospital.

Driver of White Truck Ruled Out as Suspect in Lauren Spierer Case

Last Wednesday Bloomington police released a picture and description of a white four-door Chevrolet short-bed truck seen running a red light and circling around the area where (and at the time) Indiana University sophomore, Lauren Spierer went missing on 3 June.

Since that time, police have received a flurry of more than 500 tips, many pertaining to the vehicle, and investigators located the driver of the vehicle—who, after being closely scrutinized, was eventually eliminated from consideration as a suspect, police say. "That individual was extremely cooperative with law enforcement efforts, provided information as to why he was up in that area and as it turns out it was simply to pick up an employee," Bloomington police Captain Joseph Qualters said.


“The bottom line is at this point we still have a missing person,” said Qualters. “Our effort will not stop, and we will continue.”

This past Thursday night, more than 100 people attended a Take A Stand to Find Lauren fundraiser at Edgemont High School in Scarsdale, N.Y., where Spierer graduated in 2009. They donated to the Find Lauren fund and were taught yoga moves to send positive energy to bring Spierer home.

Yesterday, a tip of a suspicious odor led police, search crews, an evidence tech, and a helicopter to a wooded area south of Martinsville just off State Road 37—but proved to be another dead end.

Captain Qualters also says a bag of clothing removed from Smallwood Plaza on Friday had nothing to do with the case. However he says investigators continue to hold out hope and follow every lead.

Police Release “Two New Photos” in Ongoing Search for Lauren Spierer

Bloomington police released two photos today hoping to get tips from the public into the disappearance of Indiana University sophomore, Lauren Spierer, who went missing June 3.


The first image is of a white four-door Chevrolet Silverado or Colorado short-bed truck. The truck was first recorded by a surveillance camera at 4:14 a.m., on June 3, traveling westbound on 10th Avenue toward Morton Street, where it ran a stop sign and headed north on Morton, toward the building where Spierer last visited (Jay Rosenbaum’s apartment). At 4:24 a.m., the vehicle is seen again on video traveling west on 10th toward Morton.


“We’re talking a very close proximity to the location Lauren was last seen [at 11th and College],” said Bloomington Police Captain Joseph Qualters during today’s media briefing.


Police also released a photo of Lauren as she headed out for the evening on June 2, which was captured by Smallwood Plaza surveillance. She was wearing a white V-neck shirt with butterfly sleeves to the elbows and black leggings with zippers near the ankles.

Police have received nearly 1,000 tips in the case, more than 350 of which came from an episode of "America's Most Wanted" that aired Saturday.

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