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Subscribe to RSSUpdated at 2:15 p.m. ET: PETOSKEY, Mich. – Authorities have called off a search for a Michigan couple after family members said they've been in contact with the missing pair.
"They are fine," Petoskey Director of Public Safety John Calabrese told msnbc.com on Wednesday. "We know they were not vacationing, but we don't know what their motivation was for leaving."
Timothy Medsker, his wife, Sabrina, and their 4-month-old son, Joshua, had not been seen or heard from since Feb. 12, according to Petoskey police.
Family members say the Medskers own a cleaning business and described Timothy Medsker as a dedicated worker, never missing a day or shift. The family started to worry about the couple after they didn't return telephone calls.
Police say there was no reason to suspect a crime had occurred, but they had been searching for clues in the disappearance.
Petoskey Detective David Schultz told ABC News it appeared the family left in a hurry from their two-story home on the state's northeast shore.
"All of their personal belongings were there including clothing, computers, food, paperwork – it looked like something spooked them," Schultz told ABC News.
Laura Medsker, mother of Timothy Medsker, offered a message to her son, saying she was worried about the family's welfare.
“We love you, we love Joshua and please just call somebody, or write or email, please,” Laura Medsker told ABC News. “Let us know you guys are OK because we love you and we are worried about you guys.”
More content from msnbc.com and NBC News
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This is not what a family does. Spooked? I doubt it/ And if they voluntarily left, they would have taken personal possessions. I fear a sad ending here.
I have that same feeling. I hope they are ok .. If you never miss work why just up and leave what seems to be a family who love and support your family..
I agree with Optomyst, this is not going to have a good ending
People don't just up and run. If they do they are hiding from unsavory people who mean to do them harm for whatever reason. This does not add up at all. Truth will out.....eventually.
Maybe they really needed a break and wanted to disconnect from our digital world, as it says THEY ARE FINE.
Thanks Hot, it is nice to see that someone other than myself read the story. The first sentence says that they are fine, they are not missing and their relatives have been in contact with them. Stop reading so much into a story, people.
something is not right because they left all their things behind and also it states only the man called his mom. why didthe wife not called home. why did they not tell some family member they were going off. sounds fishy to me.
The story is a bit confusing. After writing that the couple has been in contact with family and they are okay; the story continues to write about the family being missing and the mother begging for some form of contact.
It is stated that the couple had been in touch with family members. Which family members? Did the police make contact with the family members that reported they heard from the couple? Have they checked out the family members story?
It would be great if the Medskers are fine. It would be like when the young Morman (I hope that is appropriate) girl was found. It feels good even though one doesn't know them. There seems to be a 'drop off' of information to the story. I don't have that 'feel good' feeling about this one.
I don't know them; I've just heard the story over and over on TV and the Internet.
I hate to say this....but...does anyone have any reason to think they may be running from the law or the mob?
Cleaning businesses are also used to launder money....the mob may be after him.
I hate to make assumptions but if they aren't willing to tell anyone why we are left to our own imagination.
I know that I would do the same thing if the Mob were after me. I would make it look like I just disappeared....I would leave everything and go.
Heh! Yah, there's a lot of "mob" activity in Petoskey, Michigan!
That's like claiming the Kansas State Navy has a lot of submarines!
Good one!
Well the mob idea seems a little remote as this part of Michigan is not known mob territory. They disappeared from their "Northeast Shore" area which is impossible here as Petoskey in on Lake Michigan's Northwest shore. Something sure is odd here but now they have been found and have a lot of answering to do.
Answering to do? To whom? The local Commissar? Mommy and daddy? There was no crime here.
Mr. Thanatos,
There has been no crime with the information that has been reported. Perhaps those following the story want answers. This story certainly has had a lot of media coverage.
This doesn't sound like it will end well. They are in hiding from someone! How can you "Mr. Thanatos" say there was no crime here? You don't have all the facts. They haven't told family members where they are or why they left. They only said they were fine. Doesn't sound like they're fine to me. Sounds like they are afraid to let their whereabouts be known, and afraid to return home.
Mr. Thanatos meant the family did not commit a crime in leaving suddenly, if that's what they did. They don't have to explain to anyone where they are or why they left. They are adults living their lives... IF there is some problem with someone after them they do not have to inform the media or any of us.
No need to explain. If her reading comprehension is that bad, she won't understand your comment any more than she did mine (or the news story, for that matter). Idiots and paranoids are a dime a dozen around here.
And bullies like you, unfortunately, Mr. Thanatos.
Cry me a river, lil baby.
My only concern would be that the police did not follow up themselves to assure the family's safety. Once they were involved they should have "needed" to speak to the family or have the local police wherever the family is speak to the family in person. Perhaps they did just want to be left alone, but public services were utilized to search for them. If the police had not searched or responded and something was wrong they would be blambasted all over the place.
With such an odd situation I think the police would be obligated to determine the welfare of the wife and baby. Or you could just unthinkingly and blindly believe the husband. Because we know that men never harm their families? Didn't Josh Powell make the same assurances? Jeesh.
Reminds me of the McStay family disappearance.