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Michigan State Police reexamining missing person case from 1989

Posted at 1:24 PM, Jun 16, 2015
and last updated 2015-06-16 13:24:42-04
Photos provided by Michigan State Police

Photos provided by Michigan State Police

HOLLAND, Mich. — The Michigan State Police announced Tuesday that they are reexamining a 26-year-old missing person case from the Holland area.

The case involves Robert Villarreal, who was last seen on May 18, 1989 at his mother’s house in the Holland area.   Police said in a release that his mother saw him sleeping on her couch before she went to work for the day.  He has not been seen or heard from since then.

Police told FOX 17 there was no particular reason they chose now to re-examine the case, but it does continue to be one of the oldest open cases still being investigated by the Wayland MSP post.

D/Sgt. Matt Doan said he began looking back into the case about a year ago and that Villarreal’s sister has kept in constant contact with investigators.

It’s possible Villarreal could’ve left the state or had gotten ‘mixed up in the wrong crowd,’ Doan said. Investigators are unsure if his disappearance is tied to foul play or whether it was accidental.

Villarreal was 27 at the time of his disappearance, and police said in a release that he would be 53 years old today.   Investigators discovered that he left his wallet, money and other belongings at his Douglas home.

Anyone with information on Villarreal’s disappearance is asked to call the Michigan State Police Wayland Post at 269-792-2213.