[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.