San Gabriel Man Reported Missing Since January 2

Family and friends of a missing 32-year-old man from Southern California are seeking the public’s help in locating him.

Missing since late New Year’s Day, Richard Im was reportedly last seen at his mother’s home in San Gabriel. Im is believed to have gone missing between 11 p.m. on Jan. 1 and the early morning of Jan. 2.

That night, he reportedly hugged members of his family before going to his room. According to his relatives, Im left in the middle of the night without his phone, money, identification or any other personal items. He was wearing a white T-shirt, white pants, brown sandals and a long dark grey zip hoodie.

Im is described as Asian, 5 feet 3 inches, 125 pounds, with a skinny build, mustache, beard and dark hair in a bun. He is soft-spoken and likes to spend his free time meditating and walking.

In hopes of locating him, Im’s family submitted the following note to National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs), which posted his case on Jan. 6.

“Circumstances of Disappearance: Richard Im went missing from his mother’s home sometime between 11:00 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2020 and the early morning of Jan. 2, 2020.

He uncharacteristically hugged all family members present in the home before he went to sleep on Jan. 1. He left a goodbye note and money for his mother. He did not take his cell phone, nor wallet containing his ID, bank cards, and money with him. He did not take additional clothes. Family looked at his web browser history and saw that he had made donations to various charities in the days before he left. He has also talked about going off to live in the mountains/forest.

Family believes he is what the Japanese call a “hikikomori,” a person who becomes a hermit/shut-in after experiencing traumatic event(s). He recently walked over 6 miles from his mother’s home to Eaton Canyon to meditate for most of the day. Family suspects he may have gone there or a similar place, off the grid.”

Any information that may lead to Richard’s whereabouts can be forwarded to:

Los Angeles County Sheriff – Temple City Station

(626) 285-7171

REPORT NO.: 020-00528-0590-400

The family has also provided a link to digital assets (flyers, updates, canvassing maps, etc) via this link.

Feature Image via NamUS

Share this Article