Authorities in Vermont are trying to locate Marble Arvidson, a 17-year-old from Brattleboro who vanished the day before Tropical Storm Irene swept through the area last month.
"He left a note pinned to his door saying he was heading out for about 30 minutes," said Arvidson's aunt Patricia Kittredge, "and he never returned."
Arvidson's family became frantic after the storm hit on Aug. 28, when one of roommates told his mother that her son hadn't come home. At that point, Irene had caused widespread flooding and damage that made some areas of the Green Mountain state inaccessible for weeks.
"When the storm hit, the power went out, and everything got crazy. Nobody really comprehended what was going on," Kittredge said. "By Monday, there was this recognition that 'Oh, my goodness, something is definitely wrong,' and we haven't been able to get in touch with him.'"
Arvidson does not own a cell phone. When family members and friends were unable to locate him, they reported him missing to the police.
Authorities questioned Arvidson's friends and neighbors but failed to determine where he had gone the day he was last seen. A roommate, however, remembered one tantalizing shred of information, according to Kittredge.
"Apparently, a roommate heard an unknown person who had come to the door and heard Marble let somebody in, but the roommate did not see them," Kittredge said. "We don't know who it was or whether Marble left with them."
Marble Arvidson is described as a slender white male, 6' 2" tall, 165 pounds, with blue eyes and shoulder-length blond hair. He was last seen wearing a black shirt and fedora.
According to Kittredge, authorities said it is too soon to determine whether Arvidson's disappearance is the result of foul play, but they do not believe he ran away.
"That has been the challenge," she said. "There is no evidence in the house, and we don't think he ran away. He was talking regularly about going back to school for his senior year, he was looking forward to looking at colleges and he had a new girlfriend. Everything was going for him."
At a recent press conference, Brattleboro Detective Paul Beebe said his department was actively working on the investigation with state and federal authorities.
"Since Arvidson was reported missing, the Brattleboro Police Department has treated his disappearance as a top priority," Beebe said. "We have committed every available resource, which has exceeded well over 200 combined man hours, and we will continue to do so."
Department officials didn't return calls from The Huffington Post seeking additional information.
Kittredge, an active-duty sergeant major with the Massachusetts National Guard, took leave from her duties to coordinate volunteer search efforts.
"We have gone door to door, canvassed the local area and searched all of the trails that are in the vicinity of his house," Kittredge said. "So far, we haven't turned up anything."
The volunteer searches are ongoing, and interested parties can find information on how to assist at findmarble.org, a website the family created, or at a Facebook page devoted to the case.
"We are going to start searching some of the more densely wooded areas," Kittredge said. "We are also hoping to bring in some search dogs."
Speaking at a recent press conference, Arvidson's mother, Sigrid Arvidson, expressed her gratitude to everyone who has attempted to locate her son.
"This has been a difficult few months for the people of Brattleboro, given recent events, and your helping our family at this terrible time is appreciated very, very, very much," she said.
A $1,000 reward is being offered for any information that leads to Arvidson's whereabouts. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Brattleboro Police Department at 802-257-7946 or the Find Marble Center tip line at 802-257-9111.
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