Montrose pilot searching for missing son

BAILEY — Montrose pilot and sheriff’s posse member Mark Young has logged hundreds of hours searching for missing persons. Today, he and other members of the Civil Air Patrol searching for his son, Mark Young Jr.

The 21-year-old University of Northern Colorado student, who also goes by “Junior,” was last seen Tuesday morning, headed to a class in American constitutional history.

He never arrived. As of Wednesday evening, there’d been no contact with family, the elder Young said via phone.

“He’s a real good kid and very dependable. This just isn’t like him. We’re very concerned. Very concerned,” Young Sr. said.

Young knows his son checked his voice mail Tuesday afternoon and said cell phone records show the call was relayed through a tower near Bailey, Colo.

But the cell phone is now switched off. Junior Young carried little cash and, as far as can be determined, has not used his credit cards.

“There’s been nothing else,” Patty Chapman, public information officer for Park County, said. She was referring to the cell tower information and did not address credit card usage. “They don’t know where he is.”

Chapman said foul play is not suspected at this point. She also said the Park County Sheriff’s Office is assisting in what is considered a private search led by Mark Young Sr. and the Civil Air Patrol.

It was Young’s impression, however, that PCSO is the lead agency.

He said it was “way out of character” for his son to miss class, even though he’d been having a hard time with the history course.

It was unusual enough, in fact, that a classmate noticed and contacted Junior’s roommate. The two students then searched the Greeley area for Junior before alerting Young, who reported the matter to Greeley Police. Park County became involved after Junior’s cell phone records revealed the use of the Bailey tower.

“There’s no reason to believe he’s been subject to foul play, but there’s nothing to say he hasn’t been, either,” Young said.

He said it was possible Junior might have tried to go to Alamosa, where his grandparents live, but that he could be anywhere between Greeley and Montrose.

Young also said it was possible Junior became lost after driving into the hill country,  stranded, or simply wanted to get away for a while.

But Young and his wife are worried.

“It’s very unusual. .... And it’s extremely unusual for him not to stay in touch,” Young said.

He spent several hours in the air Wednesday, scouring the terrain and highways for any signs of a vehicle accident.

Mark Young Jr. is described as blond, with brown eyes, approximately 5-feet, 10 inches and 165 pounds. He drives a white 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Track with white camper shell, with Colorado plate number 022NUO. The SUV has a Ron Paul bumper sticker on the front.

Those who have seen Junior Young or his vehicle are asked to call their local sheriff’s office immediately.