http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20090410/NEWS01/904100307No body found - man still missingFamily, police, volunteers comb Brownsville field for man not seen in a week
By TYRONE TONY REED JR.
April 10, 2009
BROWNSVILLE - Four hours of searching and still no body.
It was both a curse and a blessing for 48-year-old Leona Wilson, who combed a field off Dr. Hess Road Thursday, looking for her missing 29-year-old son, Anthony Summers.
She was joined in her search by officers from the Brownsville Police Department, her two daughters, LaTrice Summers and Jennifer Summers, and about 50 volunteers.
Authorities called off the search, which was prompted by a telephone tip, at around 3:20 p.m. Thursday.
"I don't know what has happened to him," Wilson said. "We're just going around in circles and circles."
Anthony, who has an 11-year-old son, has been missing since Friday. Family members reported his disappearance to police on Saturday, according to Brownsville Mayor Webb Banks.
Assistant Police Chief Johnny Blackburn said authorities are investigating the matter as a missing persons case.
Jennifer said the tipster told the family her brother's body could be found in the field.
Jennifer said Anthony is about 6 feet, 1 inch tall. He has a tattoo on his left arm that has the words "Tonybone" on it. He also has a big scar on the left side of his neck and one gold tooth.
Wilson said she last saw her son a week before his disappearance.
Jennifer, 21, of Brownsville, said Thursday's search began after her mother received a call suggesting that the family search in specific locations for her brother.
"Someone called my mother's cell phone and said we needed to check the rivers and fields," Jennifer said.
Later in the day, the family was contacted and told to search the field off of Dr. Hess Road.
Wilson said the investigating officer, Lt. Shawn Williams, has been very helpful.
"He was very good about answering our calls and helping us search," Wilson said. "He said he would stay out there with us unless he was needed somewhere else. We appreciated that."
After that search ended Thursday, the family was told they should look elsewhere.
With each "look here" and "look there," Wilson said she has become annoyed with some of the calls she has gotten.
"We're getting a lot of crank calls," Wilson said.
LaTrice, 27, of Brownsville, added, "But, we don't know which calls are fake and which ones are real."
LaTrice said Anthony, who was not working, was living with her at the time of his disappearance.
"His clothes, his shoes and the rest of his stuff is at my place," LaTrice said. "The last time I saw him was Thursday night."
LaTrice said she received three phone calls from Anthony's cell phone Saturday. Two of the calls were suspicious, she said.
"I got calls from his phone at 1:53 a.m., 1:57 a.m. and 7:57 a.m.," LaTrice said. "He wouldn't call me that early unless he was at the front door and wanted me to let him in."
Jennifer said the family called Anthony's phone, but no one answered.
"We've been calling his cell phone every day, but it has been going straight to voice mail, like someone had turned it off," Jennifer said. "When we called it last night, it continued ringing, like someone had turned the phone back on."
The family was able to access Anthony's cell phone records and called all the numbers listed. Those they called said they have not seen Anthony.
"Someone told us they talked to him on the telephone Saturday around 9 a.m.," Jennifer said. "But, he's never gone this long without talking to us."
Wilson said as far as she knows, her son didn't do drugs and the only trouble he has gotten into is driving without a license. She said she just wants to know where her son is and wants anyone who knows anything to call her family or the police.
"I don't know what to do," Wilson said. "I don't know where to look. I don't want to think badly. But, this is not like him."
Anyone with information on Anthony Summers' whereabouts is asked to call the Brownsville Police Department at (731) 772-1260 or Crime Stoppers at (731) 772-2274.
