TERRE HAUTE —
Police in Plainfield reported no new developments Tuesday in the missing-person case of Morgan M. Johnson, a 2002 Terre Haute North Vigo High School graduate last seen nearly a month ago.
Dozens of friends, family and supporters of Johnson and his family gathered Tuesday evening at the fountain outside the Vigo County Courthouse to rally efforts to help look for Johnson, who was last seen May 18 at his residence at an extended-stay hotel in Plainfield.
“I’m sorry to tell you there are no new updates on Morgan Johnson,” said Detective Joe Aldridge of the Plainfield Police Department in a message to the Tribune-Star Tuesday. “No new tips have come in. … But I appreciate the information being put in the news about Morgan,” he said.
Johnson, 27, was employed at Brightpoint, a wireless services company, in Plainfield. He was last seen on a surveillance video taken at his residence at the Value Place extended stay motel in Plainfield on May 18.
The video was taken about 11:45 p.m. and Johnson’s mother, Ann Johnson Smith of Terre Haute, said she believes her son was going out to get something to eat. He was alone and had no luggage or anything else with him to indicate he was leaving for a long period of time. Indianapolis news media reported that Johnson’s apartment still contained all of his belongings when later searched.
News media in Indianapolis also reported that local police believe Johnson may have been headed for Broad Ripple, a trendy neighborhood north of downtown Indianapolis, the night he was last seen.
The gathering Tuesday evening at the Vigo County Courthouse was to give supporters of the search effort a chance to meet and coordinate their efforts, said Gloria Jones of Terre Haute, an organizer of the event.
“This gives us a chance to meet those that don’t know each other and just pull together the best we can,” Jones said. “It’s just a mystery and we want to do everything we can to bring him home.”
Dan Hopkins, head tennis coach at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, was among those at the gathering. Hopkins became acquainted with Johnson when the young man was a summer tennis instructor for the Terre Haute Junior Tennis Association, Hopkins said.
“He is quite a good athlete,” Hopkins said, adding that Johnson was also well-liked by others and a strong Christian. “You never heard a bad word out of this kid’s mouth,” he said.
Ann Johnson Smith, Morgan’s mother, had a difficult time maintaining her composure when she spoke to the more than 30 people outside the Courthouse Tuesday evening. “Keep praying for him,” she said. “We’ll find Morgan.”
Morgan’s grandfather had recently passed away and Morgan was expected to drive to Washington, DC to attend his funeral with his mother. That trip never took place and Morgan did not attend the funeral, Smith said.
A Facebook page, “Find Morgan Johnson,” has been established and had more than 2,000 members as of Tuesday night. Johnson also has a Facebook page on which he lists his activities and interests as basketball, tennis and real estate. He lists his favorite books as Psalms and Proverbs and his Facebook page includes the quote: “Don’t give up on God because he never gave up on you.”
Johnson’s car, a white, 1995 Pontiac Grand Am with the license number JS1830, is also missing.
Anyone with information concerning Morgan Johnson is encouraged to call Detective Aldridge at the Plainfield Police Department at (317) 838-3562 or their local police.
Johnson’s mother said it is unlike her son to disappear like this.
“Morgan and I used to talk every other day or no more than every three days,” she said. “He doesn’t do this. He calls me.”
Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.
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Alert: Christina Fiddler, Amber Stewart and Melissa Humphrey tape posters to a downtown utility pole to spread awareness about the search for missing 2002 North Vigo graduate Morgan Johnson. Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis
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Helping: Lori Hogue holds an armful of fliers she'll help place around town in the effort to find missing 2002 North Vigo graduate Morgan Johnson. Tribune-Star/Jim Avelis
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