Search suspended for missing man
A tip. A clue. A lead.
That's what state police are hoping for as they continue their investigation into a Slippery Rock Township man who seemingly vanished earlier this week.
Christopher Dale Dublin disappeared on his 52nd birthday. That was Monday.
He is considered “missing and endangered,” according to police. Foul play, however, is not suspected.
An all-day search Wednesday, which was hampered by weather conditions, turned up nothing. But for now, no more searches are planned.
Dublin is described as white, 5-foot-11-inches tall and about 230 pounds. He has brown, medium-length hair.
Police Cpl. Tim Morando said Dublin was last seen around 1 p.m. Monday at his home. He was wearing a sweat shirt, sweat pants and silver sneakers. He also apparently turned off his cell phone.
He left a note for his family before leaving. Police would not divulge the contents of the letter.
Dublin's 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer was found around 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in a parking area along Branchton Road on Pennsylvania Game Commission property near Route 308 in Cherry Township.
Police towed the vehicle to the barracks in Butler Township. Investigators reportedly were planning to get a search warrant for the SUV.
A team of troopers searched the woods on state game lands all morning Wednesday, but found nothing. A police tracking dog also was used in the search.
Later in the afternoon, the Unionville Volunteer Fire Department's dive team and members of Butler County's Water Rescue Team 300 were deployed to the search area, which includes three strip mine ponds.
No divers entered the water, said Nathan Wulff, Unionville fire chief, after it was determined conditions were too hazardous for a dive. Wulff said the surface was encrusted in ice and submerged trees were frozen in the ice.
Water search specialists walked the perimeter of the water, but could not find evidence of an entry point.
Dublin's son and father were at the scene during part of the search, Morando said. Police spoke to the relatives as part of the investigation and advised them to notify authorities with any new information.
Unless new information about Dublin's disappearance surfaces, police said, no additional searches planned.
“The investigation is open,” Morando said, “but we're currently not looking in any (specific) area for him.”
He would not discuss if police have any working theories, including any criminal element, to explain what might have happened to Dublin.
Anyone with information about Dublin's whereabouts is asked to call police at 724-284-8100.
