BELLEVILLE, Mich. (WXYZ) — The family of Marcus Esper, who has been missing since Monday, is pleading for his safe return.
Marcus disappeared after heading to a storage facility in Ypsilanti. His car, 2013 Buick LaCrosse, was found Wednesday abandoned in a church parking lot on Hull Road. A search of the area with K9s followed. Officers are still investigating.
"I feel in my heart since they found the car, I think he’s still alive," said Johanna Esper, Marcus' sister. "And if he is, I just want him to come home."
Johnna is holding out hope that her brother will come back. In the process of moving, the 56-year-old was last seen Monday heading to an Ypsilanti storage site, but there's no evidence he made it there. Marcus' phone is shut off and his pace maker is too old to track. There also hasn't been activity on his bank records.
"They did a really extensive search for him last night, with dogs and then again this morning," Johnna said. "(Through) the woods, the entire area, and they didn't find anything. Coincidentally, around 2 o'clock in the morning, a police officer in Belleville ran his plates."
Johnna said the officer didn't notice any sign of impairment and couldn't confirm Esper was the driver. Johnna says Marcus hasn't missed a day of work in 30 years without proper notice, and this is complete out of character.
"I’m just scared for him. he’s my brother," she said. "He grew up to be such fine man and the best brother anyone can ask for and I just want him to come home."
