How to find someone that's missing in action?

[LeRoux Strydom]

I am trying to contact or locate a dear friend of mine who has dropped below the radar, for many reasons. It's a long story, so bear with me.

My friend used to live in St Paul MN, for at least 25 years or so. I last heard from him in May 08 when he emailed me from a gmail account, but he does not appear to use it anymore (no replies to repeated contact attempts from me).

None of the phone numbers I have for him, are in service any longer.

He went through a very bad patch in the last year or so. His business partner died, the business itself failed not long after (in home construction, duh), so he had to declare BK'cy. His home was foreclosed, and last I heard, even his wife left him.

So I can understand he wants to keep a low profile, but I would really like to contact him again. I'll be in the USA in a month or two on a business visit, and I would really like to look him up, if I can find him.

I won't post any personal detail here, but is there some way that I can try to trace his whereabouts? I have past address & phone details, I even know his son who ran for the MN state govt elections a few years back (no contact info for the son, though).

What can I do from this distance (I'm in South Africa)? Hire a PI? Contact the IRS? Any other suggestions?

Thanks for any advice.

[legion]

Try a Google search of his name. You'd be surprised what that will turn up. Search with both full, legal name and any short versions (like Christopher and Chris).

Also, try looking at wesites like Facebook and MySpace, though he may be a little old for those.

[jyl]

Also pursue the son. May be more likely to find info on him. Go back through old news, find out who his campaign manager etc was, try to contact him/her.

Google does work remarkably well. My ex-financee who I haven't seen or spoken to in 18 years just left me a vmail - I've moved to Portland, looked you up on Google, etc - whether I return her call, that's a topic for another post I guess.

[craigster59]

You can also try www.zabasearch.com maybe something will pop up.

[LeRoux Strydom]

I have googled both him and the son in the past, to no avail.

The Facebook/Myspace suggestions are worth a try, though. For the son, at least.

[rcecale]

Another pretty powerful search engine that may help is the IxQuick Metasearch site.

Randy

[MRM]

I do construction litigation in Minneapolis/St. Paul. Odds are reasonable that if he did much residential construction in the area, especially if he's had some problems, that I've run across him or know someone who would know him. I can't imagine that I wouldn't at least know how to contact his son. PM me and I'll let you know what I can come up with. I'd be happy to poke around a little for you. The Lexis/Nexis search product has a pay per use product that is very good.

[LeRoux Strydom]

Thanks, PM sent.

[the]

You can get his bankruptcy filing on line from the Bky ct in minnesota. That would have his address as of that time, if the bky is still active, it should have his current address.

It would also have the address of his bky atty, you could contact him/her and give your name and number to pass along.

[vash]

go to MN's department of consumer affairs. there should be a section where you can look up contractor's licenses. even expired ones will have contact information (they put it up so you can know it is expired).

good luck.

here, put his name in the appropriate area...see what cranks out.

http://www.doli.state.mn.us/license_search.html?action=lookupForm

[m21sniper]

Just do a skip trace on his SSN or name(if you have his old addy this can turn up good results).

A full credit check will also turn up any current addresses.

Send me a PM.

[aigel]

Originally Posted by craigster59

You can also try www.zabasearch.com maybe something will pop up.

Holy cow. That is a good site.

George

[lendaddy]

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by aigel

Holy cow. That is a good site.

George

+1. WOW

[LeRoux Strydom]

Thanks, PM sent.

What is a "skip trace" ?

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Just do a skip trace on his SSN or name(if you have his old addy this can turn up good results).

A full credit check will also turn up any current addresses.

Send me a PM.

[LeRoux Strydom]

Originally Posted by vash

go to MN's department of consumer affairs. there should be a section where you can look up contractor's licenses. even expired ones will have contact information (they put it up so you can know it is expired).

good luck.

here, put his name in the appropriate area...see what cranks out.

http://www.doli.state.mn.us/license_search.html?action=lookupForm

Thanks, that was a good link. Search did not come up with anything, though. I searched his name and the business name. Nada.

[LeRoux Strydom]

Originally Posted by the

You can get his bankruptcy filing on line from the Bky ct in minnesota. That would have his address as of that time, if the bky is still active, it should have his current address.

It would also have the address of his bky atty, you could contact him/her and give your name and number to pass along.

Do you have a link? I found the bky court's website for MN, but cannot find a link where to search for the filing.

[m21sniper]

A skip trace is what you run on someone you're looking to repossess, or find or investigate, etc, etc. It involves checking several resources for information on a name or SSN.