CELL PHONE PROVIDER NOW SAYS MISSING MAN CALLED FROM HOPE MILLS AREA

CARY , NC – The Town of Cary Police Department is no longer investigating the case of a missing man who was believed to have called from Cary following a potential accident.  SunCom Wireless initially informed the Cary Police Department that the call originated in Cary but later stated that the call came from the Hope Mills, NC area. 

According to information the Police Department initially received, Luther Carbon “Tony” Russell, who turned 43 today, left Hope Mills, NC around dawn today for Duke Medical Center in Durham. He later telephoned a friend from the road this morning to complain of not feeling well; then, he called his pastor to say that he had an accident, was stuck in a ditch between two trees, and was hurt.  Calls back to him have gone unanswered, and ground and aerial searches of the area by Cary Police and the State Highway Patrol over the last several hours turned up nothing.

Russell is believed to have been driving his burgundy 1998 Mazda 626, license plate NC VTV 5380.  Russell is a black male, 5 feet 11 inches tall. 

The Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office is now investigating the case, and anyone who may have seen Russell, his automobile, or a crash involving a car like Russell’s is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement authorities immediately or the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office at (910) 677-5432.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                              March 7, 2007                

                                                                                                                                                       2:30 p.m.

CARY ASKS FOR HELP FINDING POTENTIAL CRASH VICTIM

CARY , NC –The Town of Cary Police Department is asking for your help in locating a man who they believe has had a car accident and sustained injures but cannot be found.  Luther Carbon “Tony” Russell, who turned 43 today, left Hope Mills, NC around dawn today for Duke Medical Center in Durham .  He is believed to have been driving his burgundy 1998 Mazda 626, license plate NC VTV 5380.  Russell is a black male, 5 feet 11 inches tall.

Russell telephoned a friend from the road this morning to complain of not feeling well; later, he called his pastor to say that he had an accident, was stuck in a ditch between two trees, and was hurt.  Russell’s calls were placed via a cell phone that was likely within a few miles of the intersection of High House Road and Davis Drive in Cary , according to the service provider’s data.  Calls back to him have gone unanswered, and ground and aerial searches of the area by Cary Police and the State Highway Patrol over the last several hours have turned up nothing.

Russell’s normal route to Duke is via I-95 and I-40; however, he may have taken back roads for his trip today.

Anyone who may have seen Russell, his automobile, or a crash involving a car like Russell’s is encouraged to contact their local law enforcement authorities immediately or the Town of Cary Police Department at (919) 469-4016.

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