CARROLLTON, GEORGIA: The family of Brian Wehrle, a 39-year-old man who disappeared under mysterious circumstances on September 23, 2009, has not given up hope. They still seek answers 14 years later.
He was last seen at his sister Anita and her husband Spencer's house in Carrollton, Georgia, where he had gone to sign some paperwork as the executor of his parents’ estate.
He never showed up for a probate court hearing on September 27, 2009, and his car 1992 Buick Lesabre was later found abandoned in Chattanooga, Tennessee, three months later with the keys in the ignition with no trace of him.
What is Brian Wehrle's family expecting from the billboards?
His family has been searching for answers ever since, and recently raised money to put up billboards along Interstate 75 in hopes of generating new leads.
His niece, Amanda Rickles, told Fox 5 that she wants to “keep his face out there” and “keep people talking about his story.” She said, “Maybe details will come up.”
Wehrle’s disappearance coincided with a devastating flood that hit Georgia in September 2009, killing 10 people and causing more than $500 million in damage.
How did the floods hamper Brian Wehrle's travel?
According to 11Alive, Wehrle had complained about the flooding conditions that had slowed his trip from Atlanta to Carrollton and had planned to use a map to avoid the worst of it on his way back.
He also told Rickles that he was “taking a break, going to Taco Bell” after mowing his parents’ lawn.
"He was also talking about his trip down and how frustrating it had been because it had taken him four hours to do a 45-minute drive," Rickles said.
Rickles further continued that Wehrle had no reason to go to Chattanooga where his car was found three months later with the key still in the ignition.
"Just seems like he disappeared into thin air," Rickles said.
"In the 14 years since he’s been missing, there’s been no hits on his social, no sightings, just absolutely nothing. His medications were left at the house, his bags, absolutely everything of his," said Rickles.
Is FBI suspecting foul play in Brian Wehrle's disappearance?
The FBI, as per reports, said that foul play is suspected. Carrollton Police Department Sgt Meredith Browning said that some partial fingerprints were found in the vehicle, but they were not clear enough to be matched.
She also said that a light was seen in his sister’s garage at 2 am, but it was not confirmed if it was Wehrle or someone else.
"We can't confirm that was Brian," Browning said, adding, "If that was Brian then that was the last sighting."
"If not, then that would obviously be a suspect or a person of interest we'd like to talk to," she added.
In 2015, police dug up the floor of a boathouse near Wehrle’s parents’ house after cadaver dogs alerted them, but they found nothing.
Browning said that the case is still open and active and that they welcome any tips or information.
Why is Brian Wehrle's family seeking answers now?
Rickles started a GoFundMe campaign to pay for more billboards after two podcasts, 'The Fall Line' and 'Crime Junkies', covered her uncle’s case and sparked renewed interest.
She has raised nearly $3,000 so far and said that any extra money will go toward hiring a private investigator.
She said that she believes someone knows what happened to her uncle and that she deserves answers.
She said, “There’s someone out there that did it, was involved in it or who knows, and we deserve answers.”
