A missing man’s family is offering up to $1,000 to whoever gives information leading to his location.
The Gainesville Police Department held the third press conference on Friday about Thomas Brown’s disappearance. Joseph Butler, Brown’s brother, and James O’Hara, a family friend, spoke to media.
“He’s alive,” Butler said at the conference. “We pray for him every day. We’ve never given up hope. That’s why we’re asking for the public’s help.”
Brown, 44, was last seen on Nov. 9 at the Wood Springs Suites motel, at 5505 SW 41st Blvd., where he had booked a room for multiple days, said GPD Chief Inspector Jorge Campos at the conference.
He was last seen wearing a black shirt with a skull design on the back and is known to ride a blue mountain bike.
Earlier that day, he was seen at a Guitar Center, at 3210 SW 35th Blvd., Campos said. He also lived at Grace Marketplace, at 3055 NE 28th Dr., where he had a fight days before to his disappearance.
“Tommy isn’t known for his altercations or something like that, so it’s out of character,” Butler said.
Police can’t confirm if the fight is related to his disappearance, Campos said. Brown has no arrests in Alachua County.
His family reported his disappearance a week after they lost contact with him on Nov. 9., Butler said.
Police also unsuccessfully searched on horseback for Brown on Dec. 27 in a wooded area near Grace Marketplace.
Brown talked to his family frequently, Butler said. He was closest to their aunt. Brown would call her every day at least once a day to say bible verses.
“Normally, there would be a call, text message or something like that but, there was nothing,” Butler said.
Brown moved to Miami to live with his sister about two years ago from his hometown in Melville, New Jersey, Campos said. He evacuated during Hurricane Irma in 2017 to Interlachen in Putnam County. A couple of months later, he moved to Gainesville.
He worked as an electrician for Miller Electric and was a member of Greenhouse Church, Campos said. Brown was known for walking veterans at Grace Marketplace to the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center and entertaining them with his guitar.
“If I see him I’m going to probably, if you want to hear my honest opinion, kick his butt,” Butler said.
Anyone with information about Brown’s whereabouts can call Detective Jon Rappa at 352-393-7684 or the non-emergency number 352-955-1818.
Contact Katherine Wallace-Fernandez at kwallace-fernandez@alligator.org and follow her on Twitter @katwf98.
Thomas Brown
