It’s been nearly two months since anyone last saw Richard May ? a Winfield man known for playing his harmonica as he strolled the streets downtown or grabbed a bite at a local restaurant ? and still little is known about how or why he disappeared.
Police investigators and the 77-year-old man’s family continue to hold out hope May is alive and well somewhere. But as the weeks go by, concern grows.
"I’d say it’s what we’re working on 100 percent," said Lt. Det. Frank Owens, of the Winfield Police Dept. "Unless some other major case arises that demands our attention, this is what we’re putting most of our energy into."
Search efforts intensified this week as investigators set out to follow up on a number of tips received from the public. Leads are being developed or dismissed, people are being interviewed.
Police are also asking that rural landowners check their properties for signs of May’s champagne-colored 2002 Ford Windstar van. Owens said any shed, garage, shop, outbuilding or barn should be checked.
"There are just too many for us to get to," he said. "And most of them are on private property, where our authority to search is limited."
Owens and May’s daughter, who lives in Winfield and asked not to be identified by name in print, confirmed reports that May sometimes associated with what Owens called "unsavory type" people. Police are looking into tips that foul play was involved in May’s disappearance, though the investigation remains a missing person search and has not turned into a criminal probe.
"He was vulnerable to different types of people," his daughter said. "He sometimes helped the wrong people."
May has five children but mostly kept in contact with a daughter in Winfield, a daughter in Ark City and a son in Oklahoma. He was last in contact with family Nov. 30 but police confirm he was last seen alive and well Dec. 10.
He was reported missing Dec. 31.
May’s daughter says the family waited a few weeks to report May missing because he was an intensely private and independent man who might take off for a week or two to visit friends.
"Sometimes he’d do things that made us nervous," like traveling alone, his daughter said. "But he’s never been gone this long."
May also has deviated from a number of his normal habits and made no arrangements to keep his bills paid. That’s strange, his family said, because he was a stickler for paying bills on time and keeping debts satisfied.
"Anytime someone varies from set patterns they’ve followed for years, it’s a real cause for concern," Owens said.
At Christmastime, May’s daughter sent him cards with money but never heard from her father, who lived alone. It’s unlike him not to call and offer a thank-you for gifts, his daughter said.
Police have been to May’s home to look through his things. Family members are picking up his mail and keeping an eye on the house.
"The weather’s been bad and I know he liked to take the scenic routes and back roads anywhere he went," his daughter said. "We hate to think the worst right now. We’re just hoping and praying he’s gotten lost somewhere."
Investigators focused for a time on May’s travel to Pawhuska, Okla. the day he was last seen but Owens said there is no geographical area investigators are centered on right now.
"We’ve gotten a good number of tips we’re looking into," he said. "If we get a tip in Kansas we follow it up, if we get a tip about Oklahoma we ask authorities there to assist us in following up on it. There’s no general area we’re focused on at the moment."
If you have information pertaining to the whereabouts of Richard May, call 221-5555.
