Michigan State Police said Feb. 6 that they're not sure if foul play is involved in the disappearance of a Bertrand Township man.
State police first reported on Feb. 5 that Richard Marbeiter, 56, was missing, saying his friends and family had not seen him for several months.
Marbeiter owns Doctor Turfgrass Lawn Care on Galien-Buchanan Road, west of Buchanan, and also had his home there. He is a lifelong resident of the area.
State Police Det. Sgt. Fabian Suarez said he and other state police have talked with Marbeiter's friends over the last several days. All said they have not seen him since last October.
He said Marbeiter is a single man with a small circle of friends.
"He lived by himself," Suarez said. "It makes it difficult when a person lives by himself and has a small circle of close friends."
Suarez said Marbeiter had little, if any, contact with his family, including his ex-wife and son who live in Buchanan.
"His family didn't seem to talk to him regularly," Suarez said. "They appear to have had a nonexistent relationship."
Marbeiter's son, Jaime, 18, was sentenced in Berrien County Trial Court in late September for second-degree home invasion in Buchanan. Suarez said it appears from interviews with friends of the elder Marbeiter that he was concerned about his son's problems with the law.
Suarez said it's unclear right now if any foul play is involved in Marbeiter's disappearance.
"It is starting to look suspicious with the equipment usually at the business gone," he said. "I believe the house is in foreclosure, and his equipment is all gone."
Suarez said state police are hoping to talk with anyone who might have talked with Marbeiter since October and who might have bought some of the equipment he had at his business.
Marbeiter is described as white, about 6 feet tall and 180 pounds, with reddish hair and a mustache. People with any information are asked to contact Suarez or Trooper Rob Herbstreith at the Niles state police post 269/683-4411.