Photo: John Edward Cole. Photo courtesy Ozark County Times
The search continues for an Ozark County man, 46-year-old John Edward Cole of the Big Creek area west of Theodosia, who has not been seen since May.
The Ozark County Times reports Ozark County Sheriff’s Cpl. Curtis Dobbs says there have been no serious leads in the case.
Angela Cole is asking area deer hunters to be especially alert for signs of her missing husband this deer season while they’re in the woods.
Angela Cole says, “Our son dropped him off at his cousin’s house in Ocie…and that was the last time any of us, his immediate family, saw him.” She says, “A neighbor saw him walking on the Big Creek Bridge after that. The cousin whose house he went to said his brother was the last one to see him, and that was on Stehle Road.”
Because the Coles live near the Taney – Ozark county line, and they have an extended network of associates in Ozark County, Dobbs became involved with the investigation. A missing persons investigative unit of the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop G office is also active in the search.
Dobbs says, “It wasn’t uncommon for him to be out of contact for certain lengths of time. He would often walk very far distances in the area and was not in contact with family or friends during those times. However, it has never been for this length of time before.”
Dobbs said his efforts in the case have mostly been through interviews rather than foot search, because officers are unsure what area John Cole might be in, since he often walked all over both Taney and Ozark counties.
John Cole was last seen May 22 walking on County Road 644 wearing a light gray shirt, blue jeans, black lace-up boots, a wallet with a chain and a ball cap. He is 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 163 pounds. He has blue eyes and brownish gray hair. The tip of his left thumb is missing.
Angela Cole says her husband is a severe diabetic and has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder with a history of manic episodes.
Dobbs says, “I do not like it when citizens of our county or neighboring counties disappear without knowing what has happened. It hurts my heart knowing he has family out there searching for him every day.”
Angela Cole says the couple has a 3-year-old granddaughter who her husband “thought the world of. I cannot see him staying away from her this long.”
She adds, “The not knowing is the worst feeling ever.”
Anyone with information about John Cole’s whereabouts is asked to call the Taney County Sheriff’s Department at 417-546-7250 or the Ozark County Sheriff’s Department at 417-679-4633.
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