Dwight White, of Morgantown, does not believe his son just took off.
He believes the 22-year-old may be in trouble and hopes someone knows where he is.
Law enforcement across multiple states are continuing the search for Hassan “AJ” Aino, who was reported missing Sunday by his family.
That was three days after Aino’s car, a 2019 Subaru Impreza, was found by a hunter in Maryland. It had a broken driver’s side window and was in a large pull-off area at the intersection of Lower New Germany Road and Avilton Lonaconing Road in Garrett County, Md., according to the Maryland State Police.
“There’s no reason him or that car should have been up there,” White, Aino’s father, said. “That’s why we’re really confused about the whole thing.”
White said he doesn’t think AJ just ran away and didn’t want to be around his family because his son hasn’t accessed his bank accounts, his phone has been shut off and there’s been no computer activity on his accounts.
Those are all red flags to White, making him think something might have happened. White said he doesn’t have a theory as to what that might be.
White said his sister was the last person to see AJ, when he was at her house a few days before his car was found.
The Morgantown Police Department is continuing to investigate the case.
“There are no updates yet,” Morgantown Communications Director Andrew Stacy said. “The MPD has followed some leads by concerned citizens, but there is nothing to report as far as results.”
The Maryland State Police searched the area where AJ’s car was found Tuesday and Wednesday. More than 40 people from multiple emergency agencies and volunteers, including four cadaver dogs, conducted an extensive grid search of about 130 acres in the area over six hours.
Nothing was found in either search.
“He can’t be in the area where the car was found,” White said. “He’s gotta be somewhere else.”
White said everybody who knows AJ loves him. He described his son as quiet and nice, the kind of nice someone could take advantage of.
Most recently, AJ worked as a food delivery driver and before that he worked in the coal mines, White said. AJ lives in downtown Morgantown with his 21-year-old sister and is about “five minutes down the road” from his dad.
He asked anyone who might have his son, to please let him go because a lot of people are being hurt by his disappearance.
Aino is a Black male with black hair, brown eyes and has a mustache and short beard. He is about 5’3” and weighs approximately 135 pounds.
Police have obtained a warrant to search the contents of AJ’s phone and track it. His car was processed Thursday, White said. Maryland State Police is processing the car, Stacy said.
The Maryland State Police said it will continue to help the MPD with its investigation.
Anyone with information can call the MPD detectives division at 304-284-7454, the anonymous MPD tip line at 304-284-7520, the Maryland State Police McHenry Barracks at 301-387-1101, or White at 681-285-1835.
