MORGANTOWN — It has been more than 20 days since family and friends last heard from missing Cheat Lake man Bryn Jack Hargreaves. He was reported missing to the Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office on Jan. 16, but it is believed that Mr. Hargreaves last communicated with family and friends around Jan. 3.
Hargreaves, a 36-year old male, is originally from Wigan, England, but was living at Whisper Creek Apartments in the Cheat Lake area of Morgantown. He is described as a white male with brown hair, 6’2”, weighing around 220 pounds, with a tattoo of a family crest on his right arm. In England, Hargreaves is well-known as a former professional rugby player who retired from the sport in 2012.
Members of Hargreaves’ immediate family, who still live in England, are on their way to the U.S. to assist in the search and up until now have been doing everything they can from overseas to spread the word about his disappearance.
“We are desperate to find him,” his younger brother David told BBC News. “He was single and lived alone; the last time we spoke was 3 January. He doesn’t have a car and will either be using Ubers or walking.”
David said the family contacted the police after Bryn’s apartment was found empty on Jan. 12. “We think his beard has grown and he has a very-distinctive tattoo,” he added.
Monongalia County Sheriff’s deputies have searched the area surrounding Hargreaves’ apartment several times, including with the assistance of K-9s, but have been unsuccessful in locating him.
“No individual has been able to give a date or location where he was last seen or what he was wearing, so we are unable to provide a last-known location or direction of travel,” said the most recent press release from the sheriff’s office.
Sheriff’s detectives say they have also searched Hargreaves’ residence for any information related to his disappearance and are currently going through relevant digital evidence and financial records in hopes of developing additional leads.
Several social media posts made by friends and family about his disappearance suggest he may have also been struggling with mental health issues over the holiday season.
The Monongalia County Sheriff’s Office is continuing to ask for the community’s assistance with trying to locate Hargreaves. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Mon County Sheriff’s Department at 304-291-7260, or leave private messages on the Sheriff’s Department Facebook page.
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