Man Enroute To Visit Elderly Mother In Sebastopol Missing Since Sunday

SONOMA COUNTY, CA – A 59-year-old Santa Rosa man is reported missing after his vehicle was found in a restaurant parking lot and he did not arrive Sunday, as planned, at his elderly mother's home in Sebastopol, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said today.

Douglas Roy Tortorigi reportedly drove off from his Santa Rosa home Sunday at 4:30 p.m. heading to his mother's home, then stopped at The Tides Wharf Restaurant in Bodega Bay where video surveillance showed him alone eating clam chowder, Sgt. Spencer Crum said.

Tortorigi's wife told authorities she received a text from him Sunday at about 7:30 p.m., telling her he was at the eatery having dinner but was tired "and felt he shouldn’t drive," Crum said.

The missing man's wife said she went to Tides Wharf, where she located his vehicle, a 2000 blue Lexus RX400 sport utility vehicle. Inside were items he was supposed to take to his mother, who confirmed he did not arrive at her home, Crum said.

Tortorigi's wife filed the missing-person report on Tuesday, he said.

Crum said the video surveillance showed him leaving the restaurant alone. The SUV was impounded by law enforcement and is being processed for evidence by Sheriff's investigators, Crum said.

Tortorigi's cell phone last pinged in the Santa Rosa area of the Joe Rodota Trail, which runs between Sebastopol and Santa Rosa, but it has since been shut off, Crum said.

The man suffers from a brain injury, and his family is concerned for his safety, he said. Sheriff’s investigators are asking the public for help.

Anyone who recognizes Tortorigi or had contact with him is asked to call 707-565-2185.

"We don’t believe this has anything to do with the Kirk Kimberly case at Sonoma State University," Crum added, referring to the Cotati teen who went missing in mid-October and was found last week, after being stabbed to death, buried in a shallow grave on the Rohnert Park campus.

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--Photo via Sonoma Sheriff