Matthew Garrett, 27 [FOUND SAFE] MSG Since Dec. 28, 2007 from Roanoke, VA

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Family of Missing Man Says Van Key to Finding Him

By Dawn Jefferies / djefferies@wsls.com
Dec 31, 2007

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Next Generation Billiards van believed to have been driven by Matthew Garrett on December 28th, the last day he was seen
(Pictures Provided By Roanoke City Police)

The family of a Roanoke man, missing since last Friday, hopes you can help bring their son home.

Roanoke City Police tell us Matthew Garrett was last seen making a delivery for Next Generation BillIards in Lynchburg, around 1:30 p.m. On December 28th.

Monday, police released a picture of the company van that Garrett drove. It's a 1995 Chevrolet, with Virginia license plate KMU-5010.

If you've seen the van or Garrett, call police.

Matthew's family is understandably worried over his disappearance. They say Matt's dog Sully is with him, and that he would never go this long without calling his friends or family.

"The key to finding Matthew is going to be somebody spotting that van, or possibly his dog Sully,"Garrett's father, Bob Garrett, told us.

matthew's parents say he often wears dark rimmed glasses.

http://www.wsls.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WSLS%2FMGArticle%2FSLS_BasicArt icle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173354042168&path=!news!localnews

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Police Searching for Roanoke Man Missing Since Friday
Monday December 31, 2007 7:34pm

Police Searching for Missing Area Man

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Roanoke, VA - Law enforcement agencies across our region and around the country are searching for a missing Roanoke man. 27-year old Matthew Garrett was last seen Friday in Lynchburg.

Phone records reveal his last call was made just before 3:00 p.m. that day. He is about 5-foot-9 inches tall, 170 pounds with dark hair and brown eyes. Police have not found his vehicle either. A 1995 blue Chevy van with the license number KMU5010.

Matthew Garrett had New Year's Eve plans with his friends. None of them have heard from him either. His family, as you can imagine, is terribly worried.

Every time the phone rings at the Garrett household, time stops.

Jean Garrett, Matthew's Mother - "He's very precious to all of us. He's a special, loving, warm individual. We just had a wonderful Christmas together, we enjoyed a lot of family fun. There's just such a hole in our hearts right now that the only thing that would fill it would be for him to come through that door."

In the meantime, his family has spent the last few days re-tracing his steps. Matthew Garrett loved to hike, so State Police sent up a helicopter, searching the woods. But still no sign of him, his vehicle or his dog, Sully.

Bob Garrett, Matthew's Father - "There are a lot of things that I don't know. We've checked credit card records, we've checked obviously cell phone traffic."

Catherine Gray, Matthew's Sister - "There's not much more we can do that we haven't already done!"

So they sift through pictures...his senior portrait from Cave Spring High School. Happy family photos. Waiting for that phone to ring again. This time with news that will bring him home.

His family says he would more than likely be wearing glasses. His dog, Sully, a black and white border collie mix, was with him and is also missing. If you know anything, you're asked to call the police immediately.
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http://new.wset.com/news/stories/1207/484207.html

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Search Continues for Missing Man

Wednesday January 02, 2008
8:01pm
Reporter: Amber Davison

Roanoke, VA - It's day five in the search for a missing Roanoke man and police have, at this point, ruled out foul play. 27-year old Matthew Garrett was last seen Friday in Lynchburg.

Investigators have re-traced his steps and interviewed friends and family, but still no luck. They haven't even had any sightings of his missing 19-95 blue Chevy van. License number KMU 5010. Investigators say it appears as though he's driven off and disappeared.

If you know anything, you're urged to call police.

http://new.wset.com/news/stories/0108/484672.html

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New Clues in Missing Man Case
Thursday January 03, 2008 6:01pm
Reporter: Amber Davison

Roanoke, VA - There is new information in the case of a missing Roanoke man and that information is giving the family new hope. They believe Matthew Garrett could be camping in West Virginia.

That's definitely one of the latest theories. You see, police here in Roanoke have traced a $50 Target gift card Garrett received for Christmas. That gift card was used in Barboursville, West Virginia, right outside of Huntington on December 30th. It was used to buy camping gear and police are looking at the surveillance video to see if it was Matthew Garrett.

Garrett has been missing since last Friday. He was last seen in Lynchburg. Police still do not believe there was any foul play. His family says he loves to camp and has been known to do so in some pretty cold conditions. They are convinced he made these purchases.

Bob Garrett, Matthew's Father - "In the past, he has gone camping in the snow and with friends and dogs out in Mount Rogers to usher in the New Year. So this is something I can definitely see him doing."

There is going to be a candlelight vigil Friday night at 6:30 at Elmwood Park. Based on these new events, the family is hoping for a celebration rather than a vigil.

http://new.wset.com/news/stories/0108/484949.html

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Missing Roanoke County man found safe in New Orleans
January 4, 2008

A missing man from Roanoke County has been found. News 7 has learned that Matthew Garrett has been found in New Orleans.

Matthew called his father, Bob Garrett, Thursday around 11:15 p.m. from a pay phone to tell his father that he and his dog, Sully, were okay.

The 26-year-old was missing since last Friday after making a delivery in Lynchburg.

Yesterday, we learned that a gift card given to Matthew was used at a Target store in West Virginia to buy camping equipment.

We spoke with Matthew's father, Bob Garrett by phone this morning. He said that the family was relieved to learn Matthew is okay .

Mr. Garrett is flying down to New Orleans this morning to meet his son and the two will drive back to Roanoke later today.

http://www.wdbj7.com/Global/story.asp?S=7575778&nav=menu368_2_11_1