Search underway for missing Olney man

OLNEY, Ill. (WTHI) - Crime scene investigators with the Illinois State Police visited the apartment of a missing Olney, Ill. man Thursday, almost two weeks after the man’s family say they last spoke with him.

Ed Hataway last spoke with family members the weekend of Sunday September 16, but did not make a planned meeting with his landlord on Monday, September 17, said Anita Scott, the fiancé of Hataway’s brother.

Scott said she and others tried to reach Hataway over the following three days, before visiting Hataway’s apartment that Thursday. When they arrived at the apartment, Scott said she and others found Hataway’s truck parked outside, his slipper shoes in the parking lot, his apartment unlocked and his cell phone inside.

Hataway’s family said they filed a report with police late that week, but Scott said she soon grew frustrated with the pace of the investigation and began posting fliers around Olney and organizing a volunteer search.

“I decided ‘Something’s gotta give, because it’s been a week and one day,’” Scott said. “So … I got on Facebook and asked for volunteers to come out here to search … Everybody came out. There were horses, four-wheelers, there were … about 40 people.”

Although Crime Scene Investigators with the Illinois State Police were at Hataway’s apartment Thursday, officers could not comment on the search. News 10 has also contacted the Richland County State’s Attorney’s office but has not received a reply.

Scott said Hataway is in generally good health and does not believe he has the financial resources to run away. In the meantime, she encourages those with information on the case to speak out.

“Find Ed Hataway … there have to be clues,” Scott said. “You can’t just vaporize off this Earth without clues as to how you got away. There’s just no reason for it.”

Hataway’s family have set up an email account to take information on the case with the address helpfindedhataway@hotmail.com . They have also set up a telephone contact at (618) 754-3028.